July 3, 2015

July 3, 2015

catholicnewsherald.com charlottediocese.org S E RV I N G C H R I ST A N D C O N N EC T I N G C AT H O L I C S I N W E ST E R N N O R T H C A R O L I N A

Same-sex ‘marriage’ Analyzing ruling’s implications will take time, say Church officials,

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What happens now, and the evangelical possibilities,

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INDEX

Contact us.......................... 4 Español............................ 10-11 Events calendar................. 4 Our Faith............................. 2 Our Parishes.................. 3-9 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies.......................16 U.S. news...................... 18-19 Viewpoints.................. 22-23 World news.................. 20-21

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New shepherds

Catholic flock celebrates ordination of Coleman, Mariani, 12-15

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘Meditation on Christ in His humanity is corporeal in deed, in fact, but spiritual in mind. By adopting this habit, you will steady your mind, be trained to virtues, and receive strength of soul. Let meditation of Christ’s life be your one and only aim, your rest, your food, your desire, your study.’

Father George David Byers

Priests’ vesting prayers for Mass

W

St. Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure: ‘The Seraphic Doctor’ Feast day: July 15 July 15 marks the feast day of St. Bonaventure, who is called “The Seraphic Doctor” of the Church. St. Bonaventure is known for his leadership of the Franciscans and his great intellectual contributions to theology and philosophy.

St. Bonaventure was born in Bagnorea in Tuscany, Italy. He is widely believed to have Also online been born in the year 1221, At www.catholicnewsherald. although some accounts com: Read about other say 1217. saints whose feast days are Sources recount that in in July, including: St. Otto, his youth, St. Bonaventure July 2; St. Augustine Zhao was cured of a dangerous Rong and companions, July illness by the intercession 9; St. Henry II, July 13; St. of St. Francis of Assisi.

Kateri Tekakwitha, July 14; St. He went on to join the Lawrence of Brindisi, July 21; Franciscan Order of St. Bridget of Sweden, July 23; Friars Minor in 1243.

St. Charbel Makhluf, July 24; After making his vows, and Sts. Joachim and Anne, he was sent to complete July 26. his studies in Paris.

He was taught first by Alexander of Hales, an English doctor and Franciscan, and later by John of Rochelle.

While in Paris, he became good friends with St. Thomas Aquinas, with whom he received the degree of Doctor. He also developed a friendship with St. Louis, king of France.

In 1257, St. Bonaventure was chosen to serve as the superior of the Friars Minor. In this position, which he filled for 17 years, he brought peace and order. His impact was so great that today he is sometimes referred to as the second founder of the Franciscans.

Taking on the position after a period of extraordinary expansion for the order, St. Bonaventure worked to preserve a spirit of unity. He calmed the threat of internal dissension that arose over differences in interpreting the message of St. Francis of Assisi. Central to this work was his understanding that the

study of philosophy and theology did not oppose the call to poverty that was so central to Franciscan spirituality.

St. Bonaventure proposed a unified and collected text regulating the daily life of the Friars Minor. The text was accepted and ratified in 1260 by the General Chapter of the Order in Narbonne.

Wishing to present an authentic image of the life and teaching of their founder, he zealously collected documents about St. Francis of Assisi and heard testimonies of those who had actually known him. From this information, he compiled a biography of the saint that was adopted as his official biography by the General Chapter of the Friars Minor in 1263.

St. Bonaventure also wrote numerous mystical and ascetical treatises, most famously, “The Soul’s Journey into God.” In 1273, he was appointed by Pope Gregory X as Cardinal and Bishop of Albano. The pope also asked him to help prepare the Second Ecumenical Council of Lyons, an ecclesial event aimed at re-establishing communion between the Latin and Greek Churches.

St. Bonaventure worked to prepare the Ecumenical Council, but never saw its completion. He died on July 15, 1274, while the council was still in session. He was canonized in 1482 by Pope Sixtus IV. In his general audience on March 3, 2010, then-Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the life of St. Bonaventure. He called to mind the great works of literature, art, philosophy and theology that were inspired by the Christian faith during the time period in which the saint lived.

“Among the great Christian figures who contributed to the composition of this harmony between faith and culture Bonaventure stands out, a man of action and contemplation, of profound piety and prudent government,” Pope Benedict said.

The pope called on the faithful to take note of “the central role that Christ always played in Bonaventure’s life and teaching,” and to imitate the way in which “the whole of his thinking was profoundly Christocentric.”

— Catholic News Agency

hile it is no longer the practice for all priests to offer prayers while vesting for Mass, many do offer these “vesting prayers.” The prayers are a good occasion for them to be enriched with a profound humility and willing availability to act in the very Person of Christ at the Holy Sacrifice. In this series, we look at each vesting prayer and its corresponding vestment, as an intimate insight into the spiritual lives of priests at their most vulnerable moment every day, helping all the rest of us also to understand just who we are before God and neighbor.

PRAYER 6 – “Ad stolam” (Prayer used for the stole) “Redde mihi, Domine, stolam immortalitatis, quam perdidi in prævaricatione primi parentis: et, quamvis indignus accedo ad tuum sacrum mysterium, merear tamen gaudium sempiternum.” (“Restore to me, O Lord, the robe of immortality, which was lost in the transgression of our first parents, and, inasmuch as I approach your Sacred Mysteries in an unworthy manner, nevertheless, may I be made deserving of eternal blessedness.”)

The word “stole” is taken from Latin, which in turn is transliterated from the Greek. It means “robe.” Today, for liturgical functions, it is a slender length of material which hangs around the neck and down the front, possibly overlaid left to right and right to left so as to signify a cross, and is used at Mass and in the administration of all the sacraments, not to mention at burials, during processions, at Benediction, and for the blessing of sacramentals. It’s the priestly vestment par excellence. It is understood as a sign of holy orders, but for the ironic reason VESTMENT PRAYERS, SEE page 17

Your daily Scripture readings JULY 5-11

Sunday: Ezekiel 2:2-5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Mark 6:1-6; Monday (St. Maria Goretti): Genesis 28:10-22, Matthew 9:1826; Tuesday: Genesis 32:23-33, Matthew 9:32-38; Wednesday: Genesis 41:55-57, 42:5-7, 17-24, Matthew 10:1-7; Thursday (St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions): Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29, 45:1-5, Matthew 10:7-15; Friday: Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30, Matthew 10:16-23; Saturday (St. Benedict): Genesis 49:29-32, 50:15-26, Matthew 10:24-33

JULY 12-18

Sunday: Amos 7:12-15, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:7-13; Monday (St. Henry): Exodus 1:8-14, 22, Matthew 10:34-11:1; Tuesday (St. Kateri Tekakwitha): Exodus 2:1-15, Matthew 11:20-24; Wednesday (St. Bonaventure): Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12, Matthew 11:25-27; Thursday (Our Lady of Mount Carmel): Exodus 3:1320, Matthew 11:28-30; Friday: Exodus 11:10, 12:14, Matthew 12:118; Saturday (St. Camillus de Lellis): Exodus 12:37-42, Matthew 12:14-21

JULY 19-25

Sunday: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Ephesians 2:13-18, Mark 6:3034; Monday (St. Apollinaris): Exodus 14:5-18, Exodus 15:1-6, Matthew 12:38-42; Tuesday (St. Lawrence of Brindisi): Exodus 14:21, 15:1, Exodus 15:8-10, 12, 17, Matthew 12:46-50; Wednesday (St. Mary Magdalene): Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15, John 20:1-2, 11-18; Thursday (St. Bridget): Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20, Daniel 3:5256, Matthew 13:10-17; Friday (St. Sharbel Makhluf): Exodus 20:1-17, Matthew 13:18-23; Saturday (St. James): 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Matthew 20:20-28

Our parishes

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Prayers offered for victims of Charleston church shooting Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — Prayer. Lots of prayer.

That has been the response from thousands of faithful across the Diocese of Charlotte, in response to the June 17 shooting at a historic church in Charleston, S.C., that left nine people dead.

After an all-night search, police arrested 21-year-old Dylann Storm Roof and charged him June 18 with the murders at Emanuel A.M.E. Church. Witnesses said Roof had joined an evening prayer meeting at the church, sitting with church members for about an hour before standing up, yelling racist remarks, then opening fire.

The brutal shooting in neighboring South Carolina and the subsequent arrest of the suspect in Shelby prompted an outpouring of solidarity and compassion from North Carolina Catholics.

On Tuesday, Bishop Peter Jugis issued a statement expressing sorrow for the tragedy and asking people to pray for both the victims and their families as well as the suspected shooter and his family.

“Over the past few days we have seen the best and the worst that humankind has to offer in Charleston, S.C. The worst, of course, is the senseless killing of nine

congregants of the Emanuel A.M.E. Church by a lone gunman. The best is the offer of forgiveness from the victims’ families to the man who is accused of this horrific crime,” Bishop Jugis said. “In solidarity with my brother Bishop of the Diocese of Charleston, Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone, I ask all the Catholic faithful and people of good will in the Diocese of Charlotte to offer prayers for the nine victims of this horrific crime and for their families. And as the victims’ families demonstrated, the man who stands accused in this crime, as well as his family, are also in need of our prayers.

“This display of brutal racism that took place in a church has stunned all of us. I pray that we can all work to build bridges among the races and recognize that we must confront racism and violence with a commitment to life, a vision of hope, and a call to action. May Jesus, the Good Shepherd, help us in this resolve.”

Prayers for the victims were offered during Prayers of the Faithful at many Masses across the diocese over the weekend, and some clergy touched upon the tragedy in their sermons.

In Shelby, where police had located the alleged shooter,

CNS | Brian Snyder

A man pays his respects outside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., June 21. Nine African-Americans were shot to death by a young white man at an evening Bible study inside the church June 17.

PRAYERS, SEE page 17

File | Catholic News Herald

Join Bishop Jugis for Mass to honor U.S. military personnel July 19 CHARLOTTE — Service men and women from all military branches, their families and everyone else are invited to attend the Diocese of Charlotte’s annual Mass for the Military on Sunday, July 19. The Mass is offered for all men and women in the military – those serving now as well as those who previously served or who died in the line of duty.

The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Peter J. Jugis at 3:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral.

In years past, Bishop Jugis has stressed that our military men and women receive a mission to defend our country: to defend against an unjust aggressor, to diffuse a violent conflict and establish peace, or to deter would-be aggressors. “’All those who enter the military service in loyalty to their country, should look upon themselves as custodians of the security and freedom of their fellow countrymen,’” he said. “When they carry out their duty properly, they are contributing to the maintenance of peace.”

This mission is worthy of our praise and gratitude, he said.

The rosary will be recited at 3 p.m., preceding the Mass. Red, white and blue rosaries will be given out to participants who wish to pray for military personnel.

Photos of those military men and women who have died or who are now serving in the military will also be displayed in the narthex of the cathedral.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

RICO DE SILVA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Third Annual March for Religious Liberty participants witness in uptown Charlotte CHARLOTTE — Just hours after the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex “marriage” is now constitutional nationwide, 31 faithful Catholics braved 100-degree temperatures to march through the streets of uptown Charlotte for the third annual March for Religious Liberty early afternoon June 26.

The march began at 11:30 a.m. outside of the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center.

Two Missionaries of the Poor religious led the march, one holding a crucifix, and the other holding an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, followed by Father Michael Kottar, pastor of St. Mary Help of Christians Church in Shelby, and the rest of the participants.

Holding an American flag and multiple signs advocating for religious freedom, marchers prayed the rosary on their way to Independence Square, located on the corner of Trade and Tryon streets in uptown Charlotte. Father Kottar addressed the crowd at Independence Square. The march then proceeded to the federal courthouse building on West Trade Street, where Father Kottar led them in praying the rosary and the Divine Mercy chaplet.

The local march was in conjunction with the fourth annual Fortnight for Freedom campaign organized by the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops that began June 21 and will conclude July 4.

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See video highlights from the March for Religious Liberty

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: July 6 – 12:10 p.m.

Holy Mass for Admission to Candidacy for Michael J. Carlson St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

July 19 – 3:30 p.m.

Holy Mass to honor Military Personnel and families St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

July 10 – 5:30 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Mary Church, Greensboro

July 31 – 7 p.m.

Holy Mass for Admission to Candidacy for Permanent Deacon Candidates and Annual Deacon Recommitment St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Aug. 4 – 4 p.m.

Jubilee Mass of Priesthood Anniversaries St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Diocesan calendar of events July 3, 2015 Volume 23 • Number 20

1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

704-370-3333 PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

STAFF EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org SENIOR REPORTER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org Online reporter: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson, 704-370-3333, catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org Hispanic communications reporter: Rico De Silva, 704-370-3375, rdesilva@charlottediocese.org

The Catholic News Herald is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 26 times a year.

NEWS: The Catholic News Herald welcomes your news and photos. Please e-mail information, attaching photos in JPG format with a recommended resolution of 150 dpi or higher, to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org. All submitted items become the property of the Catholic News Herald and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives.

Entertainment Irish Family movie night, “the quiet Man”: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at St. Mark Church’s Parish Hall, 14740 Stumptown Road, Charlotte. Hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. For details, call Joe Dougherty at 704-942-6345.

LAY Organizations Young at Heart Covered Dish Supper: Following 5 p.m. Mass, Saturday, July 11, at Queen of the Apostles Church, 503 North Main St. Belmont. For details, call Cathy Boyd at 704-825-4669.

Blood Drive: 2:45-6 p.m. Sunday, July 12, in rooms 7 and 8 at St. Mary Church, 812 Duke St., Greensboro. For details, call the parish at 336-272-8650.

LECTURES & REFLECTIONS WOMEN DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH: 3-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 8, in the upstairs kitchen at Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission, 1433 Hwy. 64 West, Hayesville.

Since 1970, four women saints have been declared “Doctors of the Church”: St. Teresa of Avila and St. Catherine of Siena by Pope Paul VI; St. Thérèse of Lisieux (the “Little Flower”) named by St. John Paul II, and St. Hildegard of Bingen named by Pope Benedict XVI. Jeannie Cooper will lead us in a discussion of what these intriguing women have to offer the Church in the 21st century, and reflect on other women saints who might be chosen as women Doctors of the Church. Coffee will be served. For details, call Jeannie at 706-896-7523.

SUMMER ADULT FAITH FORMATION IN CHARLOTTE: St. Matthew “You”niversity is offering eight classes this summer on Scripture, theology, the saints, liturgy and social justice. Classes are offered on a variety of days and times. Learn more and register online at www. stmatthewcatholic.org/summerforum.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

ADVERTISING: Reach 165,000 Catholics across western North Carolina! For advertising rates and information, contact Advertising Manager Kevin Eagan at 704-370-3332 or keeagan@charlottediocese.org. The Catholic News Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 per year for all registered parishioners of the Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year for all others.

POSTMASTER: Periodicals class postage (USPC 007-393) paid at Charlotte, N.C. Send address corrections to the Catholic News Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203.

NFP Introduction and Full Course: 1-5 p.m.

Saturday, July 18, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. Topics include: effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting. Sponsored by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704-3703230.

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS Helper of God’s Precious Infants “Procession for Life”: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 18. Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, followed by 10 a.m. Procession for Life and prayer at Family

Reproductive Health, 700 East Hebron St. Charlotte. For details, email charlottehelpers@gmail.com.

Mass of Reparation and holy hour: 9 a.m.

Saturday, July 4, at St. Ann Church, 3635 Park Road, Charlotte, to make reparation for the unjust decision of the Supreme Court legalizing gay “marriage” and to pray for our country. A Holy Hour of Reparation will follow.

Mass for U.S. military personnel: 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 19, at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Rosary to be recited at 3 p.m. Mass will be offered for all military personnel who have died and for those who are currently serving. All military personnel are invited to come in uniform. Photos of those who have died or who are now serving in the military will be displayed in the cathedral. To include your service member, mail a photocopy of them with their name and rank on the back of the photocopy to Nancy Weber, Office of the Bishop, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203, no later than July 13. (Please do not send original photographs as they cannot be returned.)

Fourth Annual polish mass in honor of our lady of czestochowa and st. john Paul ii: 2 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. Polish priest Father Matt Nycz of Buffalo, N.Y., will be celebrant and Deacon James Witulski will assist. A first-class relic of St. John Paul II will be brought to Mass for veneration and the Polish Choir will sing traditional Marian hymns. Confessions in Polish and English will be heard at 1 p.m. Dessert reception following Mass. For details, call Mary Witulski at 704-290-6012.

Everyone welcome.

Exposition and Benediction, sung Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and readings from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: 7-8 p.m. every First Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. For details, call Paul Deer at 704-577-3496 or Deacon James Witulski at 704-960-3704.

Rosary for the unborn: 7 p.m. every Monday at St. Thérèse Church, 217 Brawley School Road, Mooresville Divine Mercy Cenacle: 10 a.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month and 7 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Charlotte. For details, call Donna Fodale at 704-237-4820.

Healing mass and anointing of the sick: 2 p.m. every third Sunday of the month at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 37 Murphy Dr., Maggie Valley. Individual prayers over people after Mass by Charismatic Prayer Group. For details, call Don or Janet Zander at 828-400-9291.

Retreats Retiro de sanación: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sábado, 25 de Julio, en la Parroquia Nuestra Señora de los Caminos, 943 Ball Park Road, Thomasville. El Padre Pedro Nuñez del canal EWTN y del programa “Defiende Tu Fe” estará presente.

Habrá cuidado de niños y almuerzo. Pidiendo una noble donación de $12. Para mayor información, llamar al 336561-6069 y al 336-848-5235.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING “Protecting God’s Children” workshops are intended to educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent sexual abuse. Upcoming workshops are listed below.

For details, contact your parish office. To register and confirm workshop times, go to www.virtus.org.

Charlotte: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.; 6:309:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Road; 8 a.m. Saturday, July 25, in Room 18 of the Family Life Center at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road.

SUPPORT GROUPS Marriage encounter weekend: July 31-Aug. 2. For details and registration, visit www.ncmarriagediscovery. org or call 704-315-2144.

Grieving the loss of a spouse: Support group for husbands and wives who are mourning. Meets the second Monday of each month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte.

For details, call Sister Marie Frechette at 704-543-7677.

RETROUVAILLE: Retrouvaille is a program for married couples who are struggling with problems in their marriage. For confidential information, call 1-800-4702230 or 1-434-793-0242, or email retrouvaillenc@msn. com. Learn more at www.retrouvaille.org.

Separated or Divorced Catholics: Group for separated or divorced Catholics meets every third Sunday after the 5 p.m. Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro.

Confidential; all welcome. Childcare provided with a reservation. For details, call Joanne at 336-509-2304.

YOUNG ADULTS AQUINAS’ FINEST: A new social group for Charlotte-area Catholics in their 20s and 30s, under the patronage of the Angelic Doctor. Learn more and view upcoming events online at www.stacharlotte.com/finest.

Asheville Theology on Tap: Catholics in their 20s and 30s in the Asheville area are invited to the following upcoming talks: “Living All Seven Sacraments: The Permanent Diaconate” with Matthew Newsome of Catholic Campus Ministry, on July 21; “Window to Heaven: Praying with Ikons” with Father Joshua Voitus of Sylva, on Aug. 18; and “Unlocking the Mystery of Faith, One Hail Mary at a Time” with Father John Eckert of Salisbury on Sept. 15. All programs begin at 6:30 p.m. at MoJo Kitchen, 55 College St. in downtown Asheville. For details, check them out on Facebook, Twitter or MeetUp.

Is your PARISH OR SCHOOL hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org.

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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CRS’ Cullen Larson discusses plight of refugees in Middle East SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte hosted Cullen Larson, regional director for Catholic Relief Services Southeast, for a presentation entitled “Not Abandoned: Caring for Iraqi and Syrian Refugees – the Church Responds” given June 14 at St. Eugene Church in Asheville and June 15 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. Larson also had a private meeting with Bishop Peter J. Jugis about the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq and the relief and development work CRS is doing in that region before his presentation in Charlotte.

Larson Larson, who has traveled extensively in the Middle East, shared his experiences of meeting refugees and internally displaced persons in Iraq who have been greatly impacted by the conflict in Syria and Iraq and elsewhere in the region.

He also spoke of the mission of CRS in providing basic needs for refugees, working with local CRS and Caritas representatives of all faith backgrounds, to promote the mission of the Church in providing aid to those most vulnerable.

“Five-plus million people are displaced in Iraq,” he explained during his presentation in Charlotte. “About a quarter of a million are Syrian refugees. Now two and a half million Iraqis have been internally displaced; Iraqis who have had to leave their homes and go primarily east

and to the north into Kurdish region. Another million and a half people who already had problems of their own now have to compete with the displaced population. Then there’s another million plus who are affected in areas of conflict no one can reach right now.”

Armed conflict in Iraq has escalated over the past year.

Many families describe similar situations of fleeing, at a moment’s notice, after learning that ISIS was nearing their cities and towns. Civilians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds have been targeted and displaced, including minority communities such as Yazidis, Christians and Turkmen, as well as Shiites and Sunnis.

Besides the massive number of internally displaced Iraqis, the country is hosting some 230,000 refugees from Syria who have sought help mainly in the northern Kurdistan region. Local resources are strained in these communities as a growing number of families arrive in desperate need.

Only one-third of uprooted families in the northern Dohuk region are living in camps, meaning that hundreds of thousands of others are living in areas where social services are even scarcer. Although some families have taken displaced people into their homes, most displaced families are staying in abandoned and dilapidated buildings. Families continue to need living supplies and shelter, as well as education, counseling and other support for their children. Three-quarters of displaced children are not attending school.

Larson reports visiting buildings that have been made habitable for refugees and displaced persons through CRS’ efforts.

“I felt like there was a level of human dignity in these

CRS’ impact to-date

Reached 50,000 vulnerable displaced Iraqis with critical cash and relief assistance in Dohuk governorate.

Provided 9,593 families, or 48,398 people, with cash and relief items for winter.

Winterized 422 buildings that provide shelter to 10,899 people, with ongoing work on an additional 1,000 buildings.

Provided 1,106 children with counseling and structured play in child-friendly spaces.

Established 15 child-friendly spaces for education, play and care. Another 6 spaces are under development.

Constructed 111 latrines serving 468 families, or 3,322 individuals.

places (up-fitted empty buildings) than in the camps. We only focus on the most vulnerable people or the least served…We focus on the sick, the elderly, children and women.”

CRS and Caritas Iraq are jointly providing essential supplies and shelter improvements to help families live with dignity, along with education and care for children.

They also provided relief items throughout the recent bitter winter.

Recently, CRS and Caritas invested in expanding in child-friendly spaces – large tented areas that provide children safe spaces where they can play and participate REFUGEES, SEE page 17

Register now for pilgrimage to WYD 2016

Photo provided by Kathleen Durkin

Celebrating Charlotte’s refugee community CHARLOTTE — Saturday, June 20, marked World Refugee Day, and a local celebration on The Green next to St. Peter Church was held to commemorate the diverse refugee population in the Queen City. World Refugee Day is a global observance to celebrate refugee resilience and raise awareness of their presence on local and international stages.

In Charlotte, the celebration included cultural performances, information booths and hands-on learning activities.

Organizing the event was Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte , which resettles refugees from all over the world to the Charlotte area as part of a partnership agreement with the USCCB and the U.S. State Department. In the 2013-2014 fiscal year, Catholic Charities welcomed 342 refugees and asylum-seekers from 15 different ethnicities or countries. An additional 910 refugees were provided with employment, case management, transportation and after school mentoring.

The primary goal of the resettlement process is to help refugees work toward self-sufficiency and as contributing members of society and, eventually, attain citizenship. Learn more at www.ccdoc.org.

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Office of Youth Ministry is sponsoring a trip for youth and young adults aged 16-35 to World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland. The 10-day pilgrimage from July 24 to Aug. 3 will coincide with WYD 2016, which will be held July 25-July 31 in Krakow.

Besides participating in all of the World Youth Day events, the pilgrimage includes visits to the convent at Lagiewniki, where St. Faustina spent the last two years of her life, so pilgrims can pray before the miraculous image of the Divine Mercy at the chapel where St. Faustina is entombed; Czestochowa for Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa to see the miraculous icon of Our Lady known as the “Black Madonna,” the monastery and the treasury; Auschwitz, to pray at the tiny cell where St. Maximillian Kolbe died; and Wadowice, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla (St. John Paul II) to see where he was baptized and attended Mass.

The tour then proceeds to Krakow. Not ruined by the war, it stands as a medieval treasure house, full of architectural and artistic heritage. The tour includes the imposing Wawel Castle, former seat of Polish regal authority, and the Coronation Cathedral with its tombs of Polish monarchs; Krakow’s Market Square and St. Mary’s Tower; and the oldest shrine in Krakow, the Skalka, which is dedicated to the bishop and martyr St. Stanislaus.

Pilgrims will then set off for Prague with a stop in Velhrad to visit the shrine in memory of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, who brought Christianity to the Czech lands; and then once in Prague pilgrims will tour the Church of Our Lady of Victory, where there will be veneration of the Infant Jesus of Prague.

The final portion of the pilgrimage includes all of the activities and special Masses associated with World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow.

Cost for the pilgrimage varies, depending on room occupancy, from $4,170 for a twin room; $3,970 for a triple; or $3,770 for a quad. The WYD 2016 pilgrimage package includes: round-trip air from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (including airport taxes, subject to change); daily Mass in Poland; a 3-star hotel in Poland and Czech Republic; breakfast daily and five dinners provided

by Canterbury Tours; other meals provided by World Youth Day; a tour escort and daily sightseeing; entrance fees as per itinerary; luxury motorcoach in Poland and some use of WYD-provided transportation at some WYD events; official World Youth Day program; flight bag and portfolio for all travel documents; and the WYD 2016 registration fee.

For more information, go online to www.education.charlottediocese.net/ youth-ministry/youth-services/worldyouth-day or contact the Office of Youth Ministry at 704-370-3211.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

6

catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 OUR PARISHES

Boone pastor leaving diocese to minister to fellow priests Kimberly Bender Online reporter

BOONE — Father David Brzoska, pastor of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church, is spending his 15th year as a priest preparing to minister to clergy in need as well as spend time near his family.

Father Brzoska, who has been pastor of the Boone parish and Epiphany Mission in Blowing Rock since 2011, is leaving the Charlotte diocese to minister at the Saint John Vianney Brzoska Center in Downingtown, Penn.

The Saint John Vianney Center provides treatment of behavioral health and addictive diseases to Catholic clergy, consecrated men and women religious, as well as to Protestant clergy. Founded in 1946 and originally staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, the Catholic facility in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is the longest

running behavioral health treatment facility in North America for clergy and religious. It is internationally renowned for its holistic, inter-disciplinary approach to promoting physical, behavioral, emotional and spiritual wellness, recovery and reconciliation.

“It’s basically the Betty Ford clinic for priests and nuns,” Father Brzoska said.

“It’s a place where priests and nuns having difficulties with addictions or other mental health concerns can heal with in-house treatment for several months. The center makes sure their healing is integrated in and with their sense of who they are as a priest or a nun.”

Father Brzoska will serve as chaplain there starting in August. He said this new position, which still has to be formalized by the Philadelphia archdiocese, will enable him to move closer to his parents and other family.

“The other piece of it is, I had taught from 2004 to 2010 at St. Vincent Seminary,” he said. “A lot of the ministry and work I did in the seminary with the seminarians, I’ll be doing similar work with the residents at the new position – only at a different part

of their vocational journey. It dovetails, and the experience works together.”

After being ordained in 2000, Father Brzoska served at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Mars Hill and Sacred Heart Mission in Burnsville before teaching at the Pennsylvania seminary. When Father Brzoska returned to the Charlotte diocese, he went to Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro before becoming pastor in Boone.

“It’s surely a beautiful setting up here, but I’ll be missing the community here most,” he said. “They’ve been really supportive and welcoming to me.

“Like most churches, we have a very varied church community here in the sense that we have a university with college students and staff, a large Hispanic community, a number of families, retirees, snowbirds, a lot of skiers and vacationers.

It’s a diverse community. It keeps it very interesting but challenging.”

Father Brzoska said he hopes his impact on the diocese and his parishioners has been a deeper connection to God, their faith and the Church. He said he likes to

think that parishioners have been able to relate to him as person and used that to deepen their own relationships with God. “As one person recently said to me here, they appreciated that they see me as normal person, in a sense that I’m normal like themselves,” Father Brzoska said.

“Therefore I’ve helped them to see that in the same life experiences that we do both that are normal, they too can strive to grow in their relationship with the parish and with the Lord.

“Hopefully, I’ve helped create somewhat of a bridge for people between themselves and God. It’s our hope that’s what we’re able to do as ministers.”

For Father Brzoska, leaving St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Parish is bittersweet.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of the ministry at the Saint John Vianney Center and also being able to spend time with my parents as they grow older,” he said. “At the same time, it’s hard to leave this community, having built a strong relationship with them here and having them invite me into their lives. It’s like I’m leaving one family to be closer to another family.”

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Unconditional love is better path to peace, Atlanta archbishop preaches

Photos by Rico De Silva | Catholic News Herald

Young men talk vocations at Quo Vadis Days BELMONT — This year’s Quo Vadis Days vocation discernment retreat for young men wrapped up June 19 at Belmont Abbey College with more than 80 young men all mulling over the question: “Where are you going?” The third-annual event – a five-day retreat and summer camp organized by the Diocese of Charlotte’s Vocations Ministry – included talks by local priests, seminarians and others on the vocations to the priesthood, marriage and fatherhood. Its title is a Latin phrase which literally means “Where are you going?” – a fitting title to an event that prompts young men to reflect upon the fundamental question of what God wills for their lives. They also attended daily Mass, prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, and spent time in Eucharistic Adoration and in personal reflection. Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass June 17 at the Belmont Abbey basilica, then gathered afterwards with diocesan vocations director Father Christopher Gober and other priests for a question-and-answer session with the young men.

CHARLOTTE — The June 17 shooting at a historic church in Charleston, S.C., was still weighing on the hearts of the region’s Catholic bishops as they gathered in Charlotte June 22-23 for a previously scheduled meeting. Seven of the bishops of the Atlanta Province – which encompasses the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the dioceses of Charleston, S.C., Charlotte and Raleigh, and Savannah, Ga. – concelebrated Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral June 23 before concluding their private meetings. Prayers were offered for the nine victims of the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church June 17, and in his homily, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta (pictured above giving the sign of peace to Charleston Bishop Robert Guglielmone) urged people to seek the path of peace through compassion and mercy. Jesus’ advice to His disciples, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you” in the Gospel of Matthew is “the best way to approach peace is with compassion and mercy,” Archbishop Gregory said. “It’s an important Gospel for us to listen to because our whole nation during this past week has been caught up with the results of the lack of peace, the lack of understanding, the lack of compassion, the lack of tolerance. We could solve the problem by separating, being removed from each other, or we can solve the problem by learning how to love each other more compassionately.”

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Vitelli family sets up fund to benefit Holy Family Church CLEMMONS — The late Robert and Gladys Vitelli lived their lives as servants for others, and now their children are continuing that legacy in their memory.

The Vitellis’ sons Bob Jr. and Jim Vitelli recently worked with the Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte to establish the Robert and Gladys Vitelli Memorial Endowment Fund, which will benefit Holy Family Church’s Community Life Commission.

Founding members of Holy Family Church in Clemmons, the Vitellis were instrumental in parish life from the moment they moved to Clemmons from Burlington in the 1980s, says Holy Family’s pastor Father Michael Buttner. “Bob and Gladys were one of the first families to attend Holy Family. Their legacy was providing assistance to those most in need.”

After they each retired, the Vitellis focused on volunteer work, both in their parish and in the community.

“At Holy Family, Mom was a chairwoman of the Community Life Commission, a member of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Guild, the Columbiettes, the Holy Family Seniors and a board member of Catholic Social Services,” says Bob Vitelli Jr. “She was an organizer for the Meals on Wheels program in Clemmons, a volunteer for the Migrant Ministry of Yadkin County, and was recognized by Gov. Jim Martin as Volunteer of the Year in 1985 for Forsyth County and 1989 for Yadkin County.”

Bob Vitelli joined his wife working at Meals on Wheels as well as giving his time to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina and Habitat for Humanity.

“They both were active for many years with the Migrant Ministry of Yadkin County and their involvement contributed to the formation of the Cristo Rey Mission of Yadkinville. At Holy Family, Dad was a proud member of the choir and the Knights of Columbus. He also served as head of the Community Life Commission for many years,” recalls Bob Vitelli Jr. In fact, most of the Vitellis’ volunteer work in Clemmons came about through their work on the Community Life Commission. As a result of their work with the commission, Bob Vitelli became fairly fluent in Spanish.

“Dad would help migrant workers who qualified apply for green cards and help them become U.S. citizens,” Bob Vitelli Jr. says.

Gladys Vitelli passed away unexpectedly in 1992 at the age of 68, and Bob Vitelli died in 2010. Following their deaths, their sons agreed that they wanted to honor their parents through an endowment fund.

“As executor of my dad’s estate, I did not want to administer the fund myself,” says Bob Vitelli Jr. The business manager at Holy Family Church referred him to the Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte and to Judy Smith, its director of planned giving.

Smith worked with him to set up the endowment fund in his parents’ memory, to continue to serve Holy Family Church after their deaths just as they had done in life. It will provide money for the work of the Community Life Commission, which promotes outreach programs on social services, pro-life and social justice issues, and community improvement.

An endowment fund is a permanent fund, the principal of which is never touched, which provides income to be used in accordance with the wishes of the donor organization or individual. Additional donations can be put into the fund as well, so that the fund perpetually serves its intended purpose.

Bob Vitelli Jr. notes, “My brother and I liked the fact that the assets of the fund are managed by professional money managers in a diversified portfolio. The income from the fund is available for the benefit of the Community Life Commission at Holy Family. Contributions can be made to the fund at any time and it will still be there continuing to help people long after my brother and I are gone. The Foundation sends us quarterly reports on the status of the fund.

“What a wonderful way to honor your loved ones and ensure they can continue to give to their special causes after they are no longer here.”

The fund is also a nod to the inscription on the Vitellis’ tombstone, Bob Vitelli Jr. says. The Vitellis are buried at Holy Family Church’s cemetery, and on their shared tombstone is written the words from Mt 25:23: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

More and more people across the diocese are remembering their loved ones through gifts from their estates, Smith says, adding that the Vitelli fund has inspired another donation to create a new family-named fund.

“When Mr. Joseph Baldi read about the Vitelli fund in a newsletter, he called me to say he wanted to do the same thing,” she says. “He has established the Joseph and Margaret Baldi Fund for tuition assistance for students at St. Leo Parish to attend St. Leo School.

“We are so grateful to these families for their stewardship, generosity and commitment to the long-term growth of the Church in our diocese.”

— Catholic News Herald

Photo provided by Bob Vitelli Jr.

Did you know?

The Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte now has more than 220 endowments totaling $31.4 million.

‘Vatican II is an action verb. It’s not a noun. It’s not an event.’

History professor speaks on ‘Reforming a Challenged Church’ Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

CHARLOTTE — Dr. Christopher Bellitto, associate history professor at Kean University in Union, N.J., spoke to close 125 people at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte June 23.

His talk titled, “Reforming a Challenged Church: Six Lessons from Church History,” was part of the parish’s Summer Forum 2015, an adult religious education series open to the public.

Bellitto quoted Blessed Paul VI’s 1964 encyclical “Ecclesiam Suam,” written during the Second Vatican Council about the need for reform in the Church: “A vivid Bellitto and lively self-awareness on the part of the Church inevitably leads to a comparison between the ideal image of the Church as Christ envisaged it, His holy and spotless bride, and the actual image which the Church presents to the world today…

But the actual image of the Church will

never attain to such a degree of perfection, beauty, holiness and splendor that it can be said to correspond perfectly with the original conception in the mind of Him who fashioned it” (10).

“So here’s the perfect Church, the Church of Christ. And here’s us. Striving; failing, reaching, not getting there. But that’s part of our life. One of the most important teachings of Vatican II is the notion that we are a Pilgrim Church,” Bellitto explained.

One of the great teachings of Blessed Paul VI was that living out the sacramental life in the Church is a continuous and evolving task, he noted. “It’s never perfect.

You’re striving for perfection.”

To understand the concept of reform within the Church, specifically looking at the contemporary changes that took effect after the Second Vatican Council, he said, “Our way of looking at Church is always under the prism of Vatican II, but when people say ‘Vatican II’ they mean different things.”

“Sometimes these words are in opposition, but I’m going to argue that they should not be in opposition. They should be ‘and’ and not ‘or’ words.” For example, he

said, about terms like renewal and reform: “Reform tends to look back; renewal tends to look forward.”

“And there’s the word that is the most misunderstood word of Vatican II, ‘aggiornamento,’ normally translated as ‘updating.’” But in Italian the word literally means “todaying,” he said, which to him means that the concept of updating has to be a daily, continual effort to become a better Christian.

“Vatican II is an action verb. It’s not a noun. It’s not an event. It’s something that we have to be ‘in.’ It’s something that we have to be doing.”

Vatican II went back to reform the past, he continued, “but it didn’t stay there. It reached back into the life of the Church and pulled things forward.” For example, he noted, “The permanent diaconate is nothing new in the life of the Church, and it’s been restored.”

Reform has to come from within each member of the Church, he said. That does not mean structural reform, but personal reform – metanoia, or personal conversion of heart.

“If personal conversion isn’t taking place in our hearts every day,” he said, trying

to solve all the contemporary crises the Church faces becomes meaningless.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 OUR PARISHES

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief ‘Choose Life’ license plate nears approval in N.C.

Photo provided by Sister Nancy Nance

Holy Angels celebrates opening of adult day vocation program CRAMERTON — Following months of planning and preparation, Holy Angels is expanding its services to include a new LifeChoices vocational program in Cramerton. The “adult day vocational program,� said Holy Angels’ CEO Regina Moody, “will allow us to focus on pre-vocational skills related to job placement.� LifeChoices will focus on vocational training and employment placement, providing a unique continuum of services for participants to enhance their level of independence through skills training. The program now has 10 participants, but will expand to serve up to 50 people. New admissions to the program will begin in August. Pictured are Holy Angels leaders along with officials from the Montcross Chamber of Commerce and the Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce cutting the ribbon to the new facility.

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CHARLOTTE — The “Choose Life� specialty license plate has moved a step closer to becoming a reality in North Carolina.

On June 29 the U.S. Supreme Court sent a case that challenged the plate back to a lower court for review. The high court stipulated that the lower court must take into consideration a ruling from last week that would appear to pave the way for the Choose Life plates that will benefit crisis pregnancy centers. In that case the high court ruled that the government is entitled to promote different programs and that it is immune from First Amendment attacks.

Critics of North Carolina’s Choose Life plate contended that the state was acting unfairly when it approved the plates in 2011 while at the same time it refused to approve pro-abortion license plates.

Two lower courts agreed with the plaintiffs and distribution of the plate had been stalled for several years.

The Choose Life plates are among hundreds of specialty plates that promote everything from the Blue Ridge Parkway to North Carolina colleges and university.

Since being founded in 2009, Catholic Voice North Carolina, the non-partisan public policy arm of the state’s two bishops, has supported the Choose Life plates. — David Hains, Director of Communication

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PRINCIPAL OF ST MICHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL St Michael Catholic School, a Roman Catholic, co-educational, elementary school in Gastonia, NC seeks a strong educational leader to begin July 2015.

The eligible candidate must be a practicing Roman Catholic in good standing with the Church, hold a minimum of a master’s degree in education or a related field, a doctorate is preferable, and have completed successfully at least five year’s teaching or administrative experience. He or she must be a transformational leader capable of developing a lively faith community for the students, faculty and staff; providing direction in curriculum and instruction; and demonstrating outstanding verbal and written communication skills. The position also requires professional experience in supervision and evaluation, enrollment management, institutional advancement and financial stewardship.

Please send Resume's to: St Michael Catholic Church 708 St Michael Lane Gastonia NC 28052 Attn: Principal Search Committee

collection tabulators, has kept the altar linens clean and pressed, has served on the “50 Plus Club� and the Bereavement Committee, among other tasks. She has remained a vibrant servant of the Lord at the parish for 25 years.

Pictured are (from left): Ken and Connie Jewell, the first recipients of the award in 2008, Newschwander, her son Scott Newschwander, and Father Thomas J. Kessler, pastor. — Connie Ries

Clemmons parishioners raise funds for local crisis ministry CLEMMONS — The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Guild of Holy Family Church in Clemmons held a successful Calendar Party in March to raise money for Crisis Control Ministry in WinstonSalem. The entertainment was “Letters From Home,� two ladies who sang, danced and spoke about our country during World War II to the audience. Joanne Crater and Ellen Tommasi from the guild presented a check for $1572 to Margaret Elliot of Crisis Control. The mission of Crisis Control Ministry is to assist people in crisis to meet essential life needs and to become self-sufficient.

St. Mark’s pro-life ministry prays for end to abortion HUNTERSVILLE — St. Mark Church’s Respect Life Ministry in Huntersville organized its first quarterly Respect Life Mass and Rosary Procession June 20.

Father John Putnam, pastor, offered a special Respect Life Mass and preached a powerful homily which touched upon abortion, contraception, same-sex unions, and the importance of preaching the Gospel even when its unpopular.

After Mass the group traveled down to A Preferred Women’s Health Center abortion facility in Charlotte to stand and pray for an end to abortion. More than 40 parishioners endured the sweltering heat to pray the rosary, led by seminarian Matthew Bean. — Mike FitzGerald, correspondent

Statesville parishioner recognized for her work STATESVILLE — Marie Newschwander was honored by the Pastoral Council at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville May 17 with the Jewell Award, which recognizes outstanding volunteer work by a member of the parish.

Newschwander has been a faithful volunteer at the Parish Food Closet, distributing food and other assistance to the less fortunate. She has also donated countless hours as one of the

AOH donates to Catholic schools HUNTERSVILLE — The St. Brendan the Navigator Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Huntersville recently donated more than $2,000 to several Catholic school organizations in the Diocese of Charlotte.

The funds were raised from the division’s annual Hibernian Dinner and Show, held each March to honor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Recipients of the donations were the St. Mark Home School Ministry, Christ the King High School PTO and St. Mark School PTO. The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a Catholic fraternal organization for men of Irish heritage.

Its motto is “Friendship, Unity and True Christian Charity.� Catholic education is one of the core charities the division supports, along with Mira-Via, Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice and priestly and religious vocations.

Pictured are Dick Seymour (left) and Ray FitzGerald (right) of the AOH and Joann Somerville, Josie Pressley and Sarah Obermiller of the St. Mark Home School Ministry. — Mike FitzGerald, correspondent

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Jefferson, recently received a $500 scholarship from the parish Men’s Club. The scholarship is given annually to a qualified high school graduate. The club president Omar “Butch” Rodgers is pictured presenting this year’s check and certificate to Barcenas.

Knights help groups in Boone BOONE — The Knights of Columbus of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country in Boone recently gave donations to three local organizations from their Operation L.A.M.B. fundraising campaign.

KAMPN, ABLE Recreation and Watauga Opportunities each received assistance.

Pictured are (from left): Grand Knight James Combs, Dr. Jim Taylor of KAMPN, Melissa Shore of ABLE Recreation, and Michale Maybee of Watauga Opportunities.

— Amber Mellon, correspondent

Graduates honored in Forest City FOREST CITY — Immaculate Conception Church recently honored some of its local high school and college graduates. Pictured with Father Herbert Burke, pastor, are: Christopher Mejia, a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School who will attend John Hopkins University; Jhan Castereran, a graduate of Chase High School who will attend Isothermal Community College; Omar Jimenez, a graduate of Chase High School who will attend Brevard College; and Hallie Cilone, who graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in nursing.

— Karen Greene, correspondent

Scholarship given to St. Francis parishioner JEFFERSON — Magdalena Barcenas, a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Church in

We welcome your parish’s news! Please email news items to Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle at catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org

Photo provided by Marty Schneider and Jennifer Noto

More than 6,000 attend SonFest charity carnival CHARLOTTE — More than 6,000 people attended the fifth annual SonFest June 12-13 at St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte, an annual carnival event held to benefit local charities. This year’s event, sponsored by American Burger Company for the second year in a row, included a hamburger eating contest, kid-friendly rides and bounce houses, games, a variety of ethnic and carnival food, a silent auction, and live music from 12 bands. The closing event this year was a laser light show on the main stage, sponsored by Keffer Automotive. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will benefit The Relatives, an organization of resources that helps children and youth find shelter and support.

The Relatives serves as the Safe Place agency for Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area. “We were excited to have some of the youth who benefit from this organization join us for SonFest,” said Father Patrick Hoare, pastor, who reflected on the progress made since the first SonFest event in 2011. “Five years later, we are still doing God’s work and bringing together His children for a wonderful community event. We can only pray that we’ll continue to generate successful events every year at our parish.”

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Padre Mark Lawlor

Colectas Misioneras: Ayuda a la Iglesia necesitada

M

uchas parroquias de la diócesis tendrán la visita de un misionero y tener una colecta misionera este verano.

Durante los cinco años en los que he servido como director diocesano de las Obras Misionales Pontificias, ayudé a coordinar los recursos de unos cuarenta colectas misioneras de diócesis misioneras u órdenes religiosas cada año. El Padre Pat Cahill, párroco de la Parroquia de San Eugenio en Asheville tiene esta importante responsabilidad ahora.

Siempre disfruté de hablar con y comunicarme con los misioneros de diferentes partes del mundo. Fue un recordatorio para mí que somos “una familia en la fe.” Sabemos que todos los bautizados comparten en la misión continua de la Iglesia. En el Decreto sobre las Misiones del Segundo Concilio Vaticano, se afirmó que “La Iglesia peregrinante es, por su propia naturaleza, misionera, ya que, de acuerdo con el plan del Padre; que tiene su origen en la misión del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo”. El Señor envió a sus apóstoles a hacer discípulos y de proclamar la “Buena Nueva”.

He recibido muchas bendiciones en viajes misioneros a México, Jamaica, la República Dominicana y Perú. Nuestra nación tiene muchos recursos materiales en comparación con algunos de los territorios de misión. Una apelación misionera, por lo tanto, nos anima a mirar más allá de las necesidades de nuestra propia parroquia para ver las necesidades de toda la Iglesia.

Hace algunos años, visité la región selvática de Perú. En una pequeña comunidad, Neshuya, había la necesidad de una nueva capilla. El canciller de la región de la misión, el Padre Gregorio, pidió si nuestra parroquia sería capaz de suministrar el costo de los materiales para la nueva capilla, que fue de aproximadamente $13.000.

Al principio, pensé que era demasiado dinero y luego me di cuenta de que en realidad era menos que el presupuesto semanal de nuestra parroquia. Hemos sido capaces recaudar el dinero y fue con alegría que visité la nueva capilla algún tiempo después.

El año pasado, el obispo Jaime Rodríguez Salazar, de la diócesis de Huánuco, Perú, visitó nuestra parroquia y lo ayudamos con una colecta especial.

En Febrero, visité una nueva clínica en Huánuco que se había construido para los pobres de la zona. Algunos de los fondos que donamos ayudaron a construir la nueva clínica. Yo sé que casi todas nuestras parroquias han planeado algunos proyectos y tienen necesidades financieras. Durante mi tiempo en la oficina de las misiones, siempre animé a mis hermanos párrocos para ayudar a promover y apoyar las colectas misioneras.

El Obispo Jaime va a regresar a San Vicente de Paúl este verano, y también vamos a darle la bienvenida al Obispo Antonysamy Peter Abir, de la Diócesis de Sultanpet, en la India. Tengo la esperanza de que nuestros feligreses, una vez más, van a apoyar generosamente estas diócesis misioneras que están verdaderamente necesitadas.

Las palabras del Papa Francisco durante la Jornada Misionera Mundial el año pasado sin duda pueden ser aplicados a un llamamiento de la misiones en nuestras parroquias. Él escribió: “Dios ama al que da con alegría,” (2 Corintios 9: 7).

El Día Mundial de las Misiones es también una ocasión para reavivar el deseo y la obligación moral de participar gozosos en la misión ad gentes (a las naciones). Una contribución monetaria por parte de los individuos es el signo de una ofrenda de sí mismo, primero al Señor y luego a los demás; de esta manera una ofrenda material puede convertirse en un medio para la evangelización de la humanidad basada en el amor.”

El Padre Mark Lawlor es el Párroco de la Iglesia de San Vicente de Paul en Charlotte.

El Padre Lawlor ofrece Misa en español en esa parroquia todos los Domingos a las 2 p.m.

Fotos PATRICIA L GUILFOYLE| CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Arriba, Izquierda) El Obispo Jugis durante la uncion de las manos del Padre Casey Coleman (centro) El Obispo Jugis reza la Oracion Consecratoria para ordenar a los dos candidatos en la Catedral de St. Patrick el pasado Sabado, 27 de Junio. (Arriba, derecha) El Obispo Jugis hace la uncion en las manos del Padre Mariani que simboliza las manos consagradas al sacerdocio y para poder consagrar la Santa Eucaristia durante la Santa Misa.

Obispo ordena dos nuevos sacerdotes al servicio de la Diócesis de Charlotte CHARLOTTE — El Obispo Peter Jugis ordenó a dos nuevos sacerdotes el Sábado, 27 de Junio, en la Catedral de St. Patrick en Charlotte ante una asamblea de casi más de 450 personas que colmaron la Catedral de bote en bote.

Los nuevos sacerdotes son: El Padre Casey Coleman y el Padre Santiago Mariani están ahora al servicio de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

Durante su homilía, el Obispo Jugis exhortó a los nuevos sacerdotes a que alimentaran espiritualmente a los fieles por medio de sus ministerios sacerdotales como maestros, pastores y ministros de santificación a los fieles de la diócesis a través de los sacramentos de la Iglesia.

“Los fieles tienen hambre de conocer a Jesús y conocer las verdades de Él. Alimenten a los fieles con las enseñanzas de Jesús” dijo el Obispo Jugis a los dos candidatos. El Obispo continuó, “Alimenten a los fieles con el Cuerpo y la Sangre de Cristo, y aliméntense a ustedes mismos meditando diariamente acerca de la verdadera Presencia de Cristo (en la Eucaristía), la cual ustedes tienen el privilegio de hacer presente en la Eucaristía.”

“Imiten el sacrificio del amor de Jesús al celebrar la Eucaristía, y también celebren con amor los otros sacramentos --- bautizando a nuevas almas en Cristo, absolviendo los pecados en el nombre de

Cristo y la Iglesia en el sacramento de la Confesión; dándole consuelo a los enfermos en el sacramento de la Unción de los enfermos, y ofreciendo plegarias de alabanza y acción de gracias a Dios durante el día para el Pueblo de Dios por todo el mundo.”

El Obispo Jugis también recordó a los nuevos sacerdotes que ejercerán la tarea sagrada de santificar, sobre todas las cosas en la asamblea Eucarística, y ofreciendo el sacrificio de la reconciliación por medio de los sacramentos.

El Obispo concluyó diciendo, “En este día en que la Iglesia celebra la fiesta de San Cirilo de Alexandria, Doctor de la Iglesia, y defensor de la Virgen María, especialmente del privilegio de la Virgen como la ‘Madre de Dios,’ que la Santísima Virgen María, Madre de Dios y Madre de Cristo, el Sumo Sacerdote, y Madre de los sacerdotes, que la Virgen María los auxilie siempre con su poderosa intercesión.”

Al final de la Misa, el Obispo Jugis anunció las asignaturas de los nuevos sacerdotes: El Padre Coleman fue asignado como Vicario de la Parroquia de San Vicente de Paul en Charlotte, y el Padre Mariani servirá como Vicario en la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe.

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editora; y traducido al español por Rico De Silva, Hispanic Communications Reporter

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Padre Carvajal-Salazar celebra su quinto aniversario como sacerdote y especialmente de los sacerdotes, es la de compartir el Evangelio con “el mundo que espera ser evangelizado. Tenemos miles de gentes bautizadas en el abandono. Sin Eucaristía; sin los sacramentos y así se mueren.” “¿Que vamos hacer para atender debidamente al pueblo de Dios?”

Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

CHARLOTTE — El Padre Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar, vicario de la Parroquia de San Gabriel en Charlotte, celebró el quinto aniversario de su ordenación sacerdotal el pasado 5 de Junio.

“Yo no creo que yo en mi caso yo haya decidido (el sacerdocio), sino que es Dios quien llama, y yo digo que si ‘le entro o no le entro.’ Porque nadie puede meterse en estas cosas si Dios no lo llama,” dijo el Padre Gabriel.

“Jesús lo dice claramente, ‘Nadie viene a mi si mi Padre no lo atrae.’ ‘No son ustedes que me han elegido, sino yo que los he elegido a ustedes.’ Pero uno está en la libertad de decir sí o no aceptar esa invitación,” explicó el sacerdote.

Originario de Méjico, el Padre Gabriel creció en Veracruz, y llegó a la Diócesis de Charlotte en 1997 para dar clases de apologética y Biblia en la Parroquia de Nuestra Sra. de las Américas en Biscoe.

En esos tiempos, el Padre Gabriel era un misionero laico con el grupo de los Apóstoles de la Palabra, un movimiento eclesiástico apostólico fundado en Méjico en 1978 por el Padre Flaviano Amatulli.

Durante la década de los 80 y 90, él trabajó tiempo completo como catequista en diferentes áreas rurales en varias diócesis de Méjico.

Fue en la Parroquia de Nuestra Sra. de las Américas en donde poco después de su llegada que el Padre Mark Lawlor, en ese entonces párroco de esa iglesia, quien plantó inicialmente la semilla de la vocación sacerdotal. Pero no fue sino hasta

El Padre Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar, vicario de la Iglesia de San Gabriel en Charlotte, celebró su quinto aniversario de ordenación sacerdotal el pasado 5 de Junio.

El Padre Gabriel fue ordenado por el Obispo Peter Jugis el 5 de Junio del 2010.

RICO DE SILVA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

el año 2002, cuando el Párroco actual, el Padre Ricardo Sanchez exhortó al Padre Gabriel a que entrara al seminario. “El Padre Ricardo fue el que cortó mi cordón umbilical para irme al seminario… El Padre Ricardo me hizo directamente y concretamente la invitación,” recordó el Padre Gabriel. Fue el Padre Sanchez quien llamó al director vocacional de la diócesis en ese entonces, el Padre John Allen. Poco tiempo después, el futuro sacerdote se reunió con el Padre Allen, y después de una extensa entrevista, el Padre Allen le dijo, “Gabriel, bienvenido a la diócesis y me dio un abrazo. Y yo casi me desmayo.”

El Padre Gabriel confesó alegremente que lo que más satisfacción le ha causado

en sus cinco primeros años como sacerdote ha sido “santificar al pueblo de Dios con los sacramentos.”

“Poder celebrar la Eucaristía; poder ser instrumento de la misericordia de Dios en el sacramento de la Reconciliación que digo yo es lo propio del sacerdote,” dijo él.

El Padre Gabriel aconsejó a cualquier hombre que esté considerando el sacerdocio a que primero que todo, sea sincero consigo mismo, y que busque dirección espiritual, ya sea de un sacerdote o un laico comprometido. También que se involucre en cualquier tipo de actividad apostólica en su parroquia.

Finalmente, el sacerdote dijo que el mayor reto de la Iglesia contemporánea,

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iiiJuly 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

Flanked by the newly ordained Father Santiago Mariani and Father Casey Coleman, Bishop Peter Jugis elevates the Host during the prayer of consecration at Mass. Dozens of priests from across the Charlotte diocese, women and men religious, and hundreds of laity crowded into St. Patrick Cathedral June 27 for the ordination Mass.

Photos by Rico De Silva and Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Nourish the faithful, Charlotte diocese’s two newest priests told Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

CHARLOTTE — During their ordination to the priesthood June 27, Casey Coleman and Santiago Mariani were encouraged to nourish the faithful through their ministry as teachers, sanctifiers and shepherds.

More than 450 people packed into St. Patrick Cathedral, with dozens more spilling out from all three entrances, to witness the ordination Mass celebrated

by Bishop Peter J. Jugis. It was more than standing-room only inside and over 90 degrees outside, but everyone was cheerful as they welcomed the two newest priests for the Diocese of Charlotte.

“The faithful are hungering to know Jesus and know His truths. Nourish them on His teachings,” Bishop Jugis urged the two men during his homily. “Nourish the faithful on Christ’s Body and Blood and nourish yourself daily by meditating on the mystery of the Real Presence of Christ, which you are privileged to make physically present in the Eucharist.”

“Imitate the sacrificial love of Jesus as you celebrate the Eucharist, and celebrate with love the other sacraments as well – baptizing new souls into Christ, absolving sins in the name of Christ and the Church in the sacrament of penance, comforting

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See lots more photos and video highlights from the ordination Mass

the sick with the sacrament of anointing of the sick, and offering prayers of praise and thanks to God during the hours of the day for the People of God and for the whole world.”

He also told them to always seek to gather together the faithful, strengthening those who are weak, and fostering unity in the Church under Christ, who is the Head of the Church. Use Jesus the Good Shepherd as the model in their own priestly ministry, he said.

“The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep, and so must you be willing to give of yourself for the salvation of Christ’s faithful,” he said.

During the ordination rite, the two men prostrated themselves at the base of the sanctuary as the hundreds of clergy, religious and faithful recited the ancient Litany of Saints. Then they rose, climbed the steps and each knelt to allow for Bishop

Jugis to lay his hands on their heads, invoking the Holy Spirit to come upon them to confer the sacrament of holy orders.

Dozens of priests then also ascended the sanctuary steps to lay hands on them, joining in this ancient biblical gesture as a sign of their union in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Afterward, the two men put on the vestments of a priest – a stole and chasuble.

Father Coleman was vested by Father Christopher Roux, rector and pastor of the cathedral, and Father Matthew Buettner, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia. Father Mariani was vested by Father Patrick Winslow, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.

Then the two newly ordained priests knelt again before Bishop Jugis to have their hands anointed with sacred chrism and wrapped in a linen cloth, called a maniturgia.

The bishop then placed into the hands of each newly ordained priest a paten holding the bread and a chalice containing the wine mixed with water for the celebration of Mass.

In his homily, Bishop Jugis noted to the newly ordained: “You begin your priesthood at the celebration of this Mass. The Eucharist and the priesthood have always been joined together. Your priesthood is born in the celebration of the

Holy Eucharist. May the offering of the Holy Sacrifice always be your joy.”

He concluded, “On this day, as the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church and champion of the Blessed Mother’s privileges, especially the privilege of her title “Mother of God,” may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of Christ the High Priest and Mother of all priests, may she help you with her powerful intercession.”

Father Coleman is being assigned as parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, and Father Mariani is being assigned as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe, the bishop announced at the end of Mass.

“The parish of Our Lady of Lourdes rejoices!” said Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor of the Monroe church, when he heard the news. “We thank Father Mariani for the gift of his ‘yes’ to the priesthood of Jesus Christ and we thank Bishop Jugis for the wonderful gift of a new priest to our parish.”

Added Father Lawlor, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church, “It is with joy that we welcome Father Casey Coleman to our parish staff. We look forward to getting to know him and we are sure that he has many gifts to share with the Church.”

HE COVER

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

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(Top) The Coleman and Mariani families responded with prayers, smiles and tears of joy as they watched their loved ones pledge themselves to God’s service. Father Coleman’s mother Caroline Coleman had noted in the weeks leading up to his ordination, “I know that when we see the joy in his eyes and the smile on his face the moment he is ordained a priest, I know he will experience the joy of true love, the same joy his father and I felt when he was given to us by God the day he was born.” Marcelo Santiago, Father Santiago’s father, said he was heartened by his son’s choice of path in life. “We know as parents that he is happy, and for us, that is all that counts.”

(Left) The two ordinands lay prostrate before the altar, as an expression of their unworthiness and complete dependence on the Lord, as the faithful prayed the Litany of Supplication. The people chanted the Litany of the Saints, asking for God’s mercy and the intercession of the Mother of God and the communion of saints.

(Below) Upon rising after the Litany of Supplication, each ordinand then took turn kneeling before Bishop Jugis as he laid his hands on their head. This ancient act marked the most solemn moment of the ordination rite. He prayed silently over each, asking for the gift of the Holy Spirit to come upon them.

The dozens of priests present for the ordination Mass then took turns laying hands and praying over each of the men.

(Bottom left) The newly ordained Father Mariani and Father Coleman were congratulated by their brother priests outside the cathedral after Mass.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 FROM THE COVER

Prayers offered for two on eve of ordination Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

After their ordination, Father Coleman and Father Mariani give their first blessings as priests to their parents, Keith and Caroline Coleman (left) and Marcelo and Nancy Mariani (right).

Mary’s Sons prayer apostolate uplifts priests Kneelers given as ordination gifts June 27 SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — A chance meeting at the Eucharistic Congress a couple years ago prompted two women to start an organized prayer effort for priests.

Called “Mary’s Sons,” the prayer apostolate is the inspiration of Jackie Gallagher and Robyn Magyar. During a conversation at Gallagher’s vendor booth at the Congress, they discovered that they both shared a love of supporting priests through prayer using a booklet entitled “Praying for our Priests.” Gallagher was promoting the book through Goodwill Publishers, and Magyar was using it with a prayer group at her parish, St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.

Together, they hoped, “Mary’s Sons” could help spread this prayer effort even further across the diocese. Their effort is still growing, and a unique outgrowth has been what they call the “Seminarian Kneeler Prayer Pilgrimage.”

In this project, custom-made wooden kneelers were bought thanks to a local donation and given to the diocese’s new priests at their ordinations in 2014 and this year. Before ordination, the kneelers were put on display at Charlottearea parishes so that the faithful could offer prayers for the ordinands as well as future vocations.

“The vision was for the kneelers to travel to ‘host’ parishes throughout the diocese to give the parishioners an opportunity to kneel and pray for the soon-to-be ordained men,” Gallagher says.

“The pastors graciously opened their doors to Mary’s Sons and allowed the kneelers to be placed in a beautiful setting, such as before the Blessed Sacrament or a statue of Our Lady.”

Magyar “is so energized and devoted to our apostolate,” Gallagher says. “She has taken this kneeler program and developed it into what you see today. I cannot give enough credit to her!! She took this kneeler program and ran with it.”

This year, two kneelers – one for Father Casey Coleman, another for Father Santiago Mariani – traveled to 13 parishes in May and June before they were blessed by Bishop Peter Jugis and presented to the two new priests at a reception following their ordination.

“Each kneeler is a gift to the new priest and has a personalized plaque that reads ‘With our prayers for a joyful priesthood,’ the new priest’s name and date of his ordination,” Gallagher says.

In addition, each newly-ordained priest receives a traveling stole handmade by a local parishioner, as well as journals filled with well wishes written by those who have prayed on the kneelers at each church along the way.

Plans are already in place to begin the 2016 Kneeler Pilgrimage in September, beginning with parishes outside the Charlotte area, Gallagher adds. She encourages people to get involved with praying for priests, either with the Mary’s Sons group or in their own families.

“Our goal is to foster vocations but also, and especially, to pray for those priests out in the trenches doing God’s work

Photos by Patricia L. Guilfoyle and SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

Bishop Peter Jugis blessed two wooden kneelers made especially for each new priest, a gift of thanksgiving from the group Mary’s Sons, which works to pray for priests and an increase of vocations in the diocese. Hundreds of faithful prayed before the Blessed Sacrament on the kneelers at churches throughout the Charlotte area in the weeks leading up to the ordinations. daily. We must shower them with prayer to protect them against the evils out there trying to devour them.”

To learn more about Mary’s Sons, go to www.maryssons. com or call 704-707-5070.

CHARLOTTE — Many faithful gathered at St. Patrick Cathedral June 26 to pray for the two men who will be ordained to the priesthood there the following day.

The Holy Hour for Deacon Casey Coleman and Deacon Santiago Mariani was led by Bishop Peter Jugis, with the two ordinands sitting in the front pew near so many people who have prayed and supported them throughout their seminary studies and preparation for holy orders.

They were commended by Bishop Jugis for saying “yes” when God called them to a religious vocation. That response to God’s Will is sorely lacking in today’s society, Bishop Jugis noted in his brief homily during the Holy Hour.

“The culture in which we live is not well,” he said. “It is not well because it has said no to God many times – no to God on His definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, no to God on the absolute right to life of the innocent unborn child, no to God on the immorality of sexual relations outside of marriage. Too many no’s to God and His plan. As a result of all of those no’s, the culture is heavily burdened and weighted down.”

He continued, “But you, Deacon Casey and Deacon Santiago, are preparing to say your unconditional yes to God at your priestly ordination tomorrow.

“How refreshing it is in our times to hear that yes to God – without conditions, without reservations.”

“Because of your resounding yes to God, God will give us the grace of a joyful ordination Mass – life-giving to everybody in it, and indeed, lifegiving to the entire diocese,” he said.

At their ordination Saturday, the two men will be saying yes to sanctifying the People of God through the sacraments and through the Word of God, yes to praying for God’s mercy upon His people, and “yes to (uniting) yourself closely every day to Christ the High Priest.”

“Because you know Jesus to be ‘the way and the truth and the life,’” he added, referencing the theme of this fall’s diocesan Eucharistic Congress.

“The culture around us says no, and as a result is heavily burdened and weighted down,” he said.

“The Church says yes, and is joyful and is lifegiving.

“Deacon Casey and Deacon Santiago, as you receive the Holy Spirit again tomorrow and He impresses on your souls the indelible character of the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ, may your priestly ministry and the action of the Holy Spirit produce life, holiness and salvation in all those whom you serve.”

After the prayer service, Bishop Jugis blessed each ordinand’s vestments and chalices. He also blessed two wooden kneelers that have been made especially for each of them.

Soon-to-be-ordained Father Coleman’s Mass vestments have been made by a vestment house in Mexico that works with a community of sisters who make them by hand, and the proceeds benefit their ministry to the poor and homeless in Mexico.

The style is semi-Gothic, gold with red and gold orphreys in a traditional Y shape on the chasuble with a hand-embroidered IHS emblem on the back.

The chasuble and dalmatics are trimmed with red and gold piping and thin red and gold galloons.

Soon-to-be-ordained Father Mariani’s first Mass vestment is a white and blue Neo-Gothic vestment, handmade by the mother of a priest friend. His chalice is an early 19th century, Neo-Romanesque chalice from France with depictions of the Annunciation, Nativity and Crucifixion of Our Lord at the base and of St. Augustine and St. Louis the King around the cup.

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com FROM THE COVERI

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Father Casey Coleman celebrated his first Mass June 28 at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. He is pictured elevating the Host during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and giving Communion to his mother Carolina Coleman.

Father Santiago Mariani celebrated his first Mass June 28 at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Spartanburg, S.C. He is pictured reciting the Eucharistic Prayer, and receiving the offertory gifts from his parents Marcelo and Nancy Mariani.

Photos by Chuck Eaton Photography | Catholic News Herald

Photos provided by Michaeleen Davis

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

On TV n Saturday, July 4, 12:10 p.m.

(EWTN) “Closing Mass of the Fortnight for Freedom Religious.”

From the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Cardinal Donald Wuerl and homilist Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrate Mass concluding the Fortnight for Freedom.

In Brief

n Saturday, July 4, 1:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Catholic Action Insight: Religious Liberty Under Attack.”

Expert litigation attorney Charles LiMandri joins Thomas McKenna to discuss increasing attacks on religious freedom in the U.S. Learn about the Founding Fathers’ intentions, the basis for religious liberty and profound consequences if it is not preserved.

‘Max’ A “military working dog” returns from Afghanistan to vanquish evil while mending a broken home in this wholesome and welcome family drama. When the eponymous canine’s handler (Robbie Amell), a Marine, is killed, the distraught animal is honorably discharged and sent home to Texas to live with the Leatherneck’s parents (Lauren Graham and Thomas Haden Church) and his troubled younger brother (Josh Wiggins). With the encouragement of the sassy girl (Mia Xitlali), for whom he’s fallen, the rebellious teen overcomes his initial resistance and bonds with his new pet.

Scenes of combat and human peril as well as dog-fighting, a few mild oaths.

CNS: A-II (adults); MPAA: PG

‘Inside Out’ Splendid animated comedy, founded on strong values, in which an 11-year-old girl’s (voice of Kaitlyn Dias) personified emotions, principally Joy (voice of Amy Poehler) and Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith), struggle to help her cope with the crisis brought on by her family’s move from Minnesota to San Francisco.

CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents); MPAA: PG

Other movies: n ‘Jurassic World’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Ted 2: CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R

PhotoS provided by Jean Souders, Dances With Films

At its West Coast premiere, “Homeless” took home the Grand Jury Award for best film at the 18th Dances With Films Festival in Los Angeles. Pictured are (from left) writer/director Clay Riley Hassler, producer Tif Hassler, Michael McDowell (Gosh) and Hosanna Gourley (Krystal).

‘HOMELESS’: Winston-Salem teen stars in film, hopes to raise awareness Annette K. Tenny Correspondent

CLEMMONS — Michael McDowell, a recent graduate of Bishop McGuinness High School, is a musician. He plays the guitar and has spent many hours in a recording studio. Over the past few months, he’s also spent a fair amount of time on the film festival circuit – but not as a musician. As an actor.

In what is his first acting gig, McDowell has been cast as the lead role of an independent film produced and shot in Winston-Salem that has been earning rave reviews from critics.

“Homeless” is based on a true story about an 18-year-old named Gosh who endures the soulcrushingly empty days and lonely nights living on the streets and in homeless shelters. Like a lot of kids his age, Gosh’s life is marked by one step forward, two steps back, but when his life “steps back” there’s no one there to catch him.

No family to pick him up, no home to return to.

The film, which had its East Coast premiere at the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, has won outstanding reviews both for the film’s depiction of teen homelessness and in particular for McDowell’s performance.

“Homeless” recently had its West Coast premiere at the Dances With Films festival in Los Angles and took the coveted Grand Jury Award for best feature film. That’s pretty amazing for a first time actor who had no expectations when he went to the casting call, of anything other than supporting his older sister Megan for her audition and maybe landing a part as an extra.

“I was pretty surprised when they called me back,” McDowell said. “They called me back two times to read with other people.”

Clay Riley Hassler, the film’s writer and director, and his wife, producer Tif Hassler, said

when McDowell first walked in to the auditions they dismissed him as looking too young for the part. (McDowell was 16 at the time.)

“He still had quite a bit of youth in his face… but then when he read he was fantastic. We put him through some pretty rigorous call-backs,” Clay Hassler said.

Both Hasslers agreed that when McDowell is on screen, “he just shines.”

So, the Hasslers said, they took a chance and cast an untested actor to carry a film that for the most part, would rest entirely on that actor’s ability to draw people into a world they don’t really want to believe exists: teen homelessness.

They told McDowell to start growing out his hair and tell his mom they were going to dye it blond and, by the way, give him a lip ring.

The primary shooting was done over 15 days on the streets of Winston-Salem and at Samaritan Ministries Samaritan Inn Shelter, a homeless shelter for men organized by five downtown Winston-Salem churches.

McDowell had been to the shelter before with his father to deliver pies for Thanksgiving, but he hadn’t gone inside. When he entered the shelter the first time for shooting, he said, he just felt an overwhelming sense of sadness.

“People there… they had no place to live. No place to live… and really nothing to call their own.”

“At the shelter,” he said, “you have to leave in the morning after breakfast and can come back at night around six or seven o’clock. In between, you’re just on the street.”

The staff and clients at Samaritan Ministries knew why they were there and supported the film project, he added. “The people you see in the background, all the extras – they are really HOMELESS, SEE page 17

n Saturday, July 4, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Maria Goretti.” St. Maria Goretti, one of the youngest saints in the history of the Church, gave up her life to protect her purity.

A remarkable film explores her life and the gritty detail of family poverty and harsh living conditions. n Saturday, July 4, 9:45 p.m.

(EWTN) “No Greater Love.” After finding out he was nearly aborted, Deacon Julio reflects on how this and other events in his life have shaped his calling to the priesthood. n Monday, July 6, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Be a Man: Take Courage and Be a Man Who Lives as a Beloved Son.” Father Larry Richards focuses on Jesus’s public ministry and how it began with the words He heard from His Father at His baptism: ‘You are my beloved Son.” n Saturday, July 11, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “The War of the Vendee.” Deeply rooted in their Catholic faith, as preached generations earlier by St. Louis de Montfort, the people of the region of Vendée rose up against the French Revolution, fighting for their faith. n Saturday, July 11, 11 p.m. (EWTN) “The Story of Kateri Tekakwitha.”

Learn about St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American woman to be recognized as a saint. Listen to testimonies of those who have been touched by her – including the young boy miraculously cured that led to her canonization. n Monday, July 13, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Brides of Christ: Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate.” An inspiring portrait of a new religious community in Canada, the Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate (S.O.L.I.), as they go about their daily lives, teaching and answering God’s call for them to be Brides of Christ. n Thursday, July 16, 6:30 p.m. “Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” Father Pablo Straub offers meditations about Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

VESTING PRAYERS: FROM PAGE 2

that the priest is seen to be first in line to be like everyone else, the first to say that he is the worst of all sinners, the first to rejoice in being humbly thankful to the Lord for being numbered – unworthy as he is – among the children of God. Let’s all just admit something: none of us is better than anyone else, not better than anyone who lived in the “dark ages” of the past, not better than anyone living in “less privileged” conditions than ourselves today, not better than the very “worst sinner” we can imagine, the rapist, the arsonist, the genocidal terrorist, the wife-beater, the one shoving drugs down the throats of children, the cop-killer, the road-rager, the extortionist, the liar, the parasite, the bully. We, of ourselves, are not better. We’ve all crucified the Son of the Living God with our sin. If the priest is special, conspicuous, it is only because he must, in donning the stole, be the example for us of the one who best confesses that, given the circumstances in life, he would be able to commit any and all sins. Anyone who thinks that he would be a saint without the grace of God no matter what his personal life-story might have been growing up is an arrogant fool, a cynic, a hypocrite – all sins which the priest must admit that he would also be ready to commit given the circumstances. As we will see below, the stole proclaims the priest to be, personally, the prodigal son in all his sin and starvation for fellowship with the pigs, but also in all his repentance and humble thanksgiving.

The father in the parable (Lk 15:11-32) had his prodigal son clothed in the first stole, the first robe, but not the first robe in the closet, nor the best robe simply due to textiles, color spectrum or lack of production imperfections. Just as we have set phrases in our culture that last through the centuries, such as “star-spangled banner,” just so was the phrase “first robe” already cemented into the culture for many centuries when Jesus spoke this parable. “First” really was first – being worn as it was by Adam before original sin, a spiritual robe of light and immortality, of grace and friendship with God. In clothing his prodigal son in the “first robe,” the father of the parable was forgiving

him, making him again his son, again an integral part of the family.

When the priest wears this stole, he is not congratulating himself for being ordained, or flaunting some sort of power over others.

Instead, he is shouting out that if he were to be without God’s grace, he would be dissolute, living a life without salvation just like the prodigal son, out with the pigs, an outcast of society, despised and hated, and himself hating God and neighbor. He is saying that he would come up with a calculated plan to merely exist in the world on a scrap of bread from someone he once called his father even though he no longer had any hope of being his son. He is saying that he is overwhelmed at the goodness and kindness of Jesus, and so rejoices to be forgiven, to once again be a true son, that he abandons his conceited plans so as now to stand, unworthy as he has been, in the gleaming robe of immortality. He wants everyone to see Jesus’ goodness and kindness provided to us in all the sacraments through the Sacrifice of the Mass.

One might think it is a bit of stretch to connect “the robe of immortality” of this prayer with the “first robe” in the parable of the prodigal son, however nice that would be. However, a glance at the commentary of the early Fathers of the Church on this parable reveals many references to the robe of immortality that was lost in the transgression of our first parents. Appropriately, this robe of newly received sanctifying grace mentioned in the parable is the origin of the baptismal robe. Yet, in preparing himself to offer the Sacred Mysteries, the priest still feels himself to be utterly unworthy, and rightly so. He is to act in the Person of Christ at the consecrations. In his anguish, he begs that he nevertheless “be made deserving of eternal blessedness.” It’s was God’s choice, after all, that he was called to stand before everyone in this stole as the example of forgiven sin.

Wearing this stole at the Sacrifice of the Mass, the priest will rejoice to wear it while absolving sins, and will rejoice even more in taking the physical stole off so as to be the prodigal on his knees, receiving absolution of his own sins, gaining the spiritual robe of immortality. This prayer brings it all home to the banquet of the Last Supper put on by the prodigal’s father, a great way to prepare for Holy Mass.

‘Let’s all just admit something: none of us is better than anyone else... We’ve all crucified the Son of the Living God with our sin.’

REFUGEES: FROM PAGE 5

in educational activities and counseling.

The spaces provide a routine, counseling, recreational activities and tutoring to keep children mentally engaged so they will be able to heal and transition to formal schooling eventually.

“Because 500 school buildings in the region are being used as shelters for more than 50,000 people…and they need 80 new school buildings to meet the demand of the school-aged population, one of the responses has been the child-friendly spaces.”

Father George David Byers is administrator of Holy Redeemer Parish in Andrews.

CRS has been able to help over 2,000 children so far in that area. Larson reports that when the schools get up and running, the extra supplies CRS has there will be donated to the community and the tent will be packed up and taken to another location to help more children.

CRS and Caritas jointly employ 151 staff, consultants and volunteers at offices in Erbil and Dohuk.

The Diocese of Charlotte contributed $83,089.90 to Catholic Relief Services from a special collection taken up in all parishes last October. Annual donations to the CRS Rice Bowl initiative also provide assistance to CRS’ refugee assistance program in the Middle East.

— CRS contributed to this story.

PRAYERS: FROM PAGE 3

Father Michael Kottar told members of St. Mary Help of Christians Parish gathered for Mass on Sunday that the day’s Gospel reading from Mark 4:35-41 gives us the example to follow when trouble comes into our lives.

“When life’s storms batter us, our families and our communities, our first reaction should always be the same as the Apostles in today’s Gospel, ‘Teacher do you not care that we are perishing?’: We should go to Jesus, wake Him up, and place our confidence in Him, through sincere, heartto-heart prayer. Ask Him to increase our faith in Him,” Father Kottar said.

He added, “It’s foolishness to believe that storms are never going to come into our lives. Our faith does not stop the wind and sea from rising up. It’s our faith which keeps the boat from sinking, when the wind and sea rise up in our lives.”

Prayer is important, he noted, but it “is not like trying to gaze into a big crystal ball. We don’t pray to get an explanation or even a justification for the way things are.

We pray for an increase in faith in God who accompanies us in our pain and struggles.”

Prayer can offer us “a ray of light that guides our steps in the darkness,” he said.

At St. William Church in Murphy, Father Alex Ayala spoke during his homily on the problem of evil in this world. Even

HOMELESS: FROM PAGE 16

homeless and they let us film them.”

Before the film, McDowell said, he didn’t really think about young people his age being homeless. But he came to see that “in the ways that matter the most, we’re the same.”

The Hasslers agreed. They believed the misconceptions they both had about homeless people are probably shared by a lot of people.

“At least for me, I had certain visual stereotypes growing up, in my mind,” Clay Hassler said. “The panhandlers on the corner asking you for money or just sitting on a bench somewhere just watching people. So, when the real Gosh came to us, when we met him, that stereotype just got flipped on its head.”

The real Gosh was articulate and incredibly positive, said Hassler.

The Hasslers met the real Gosh at downtown Centenary United Methodist Church, the church they were attending while living in Winston-Salem. Gosh started attending the Sunday school class they were teaching. They spent a lot of time talking to him, learning about his life, his experiences. Like many homeless teens, Gosh had lost a lot in his 18 years.

His grandmother raised him; his father was in prison and his mother was missing from his life for a long time. When his grandmother died, there were no other relatives to help him and no place for him to live. He was dropped off at a homeless shelter by the landlord who evicted him.

Gosh talked to the Hasslers about writing a memoir but they were ready to make their first feature film. Gosh, the Hasslers said, readily agreed to telling his story through film.

“Gosh was totally on-board with us doing a film,” Clay Hassler said, “but I don’t think we realized the impact it would have on people.”

“For Tif and I, our faith is very important to us and if you’re a person of faith, this movie will resonate with you. We

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though the storms of evil come into all of our lives at some point – and, like Job, we may not know the reason for it – we do know through faith that Jesus Christ was victorious over evil, he said. Therefore, we must fix “our eyes on Him alone who is its conqueror.”

At St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon, Father Roger Arnsparger highlighted the beautiful Christian witness of the victims’ families, in forgiving the murder of their loved ones, and parishioners prayed the Hail Mary for them.

At St. Mark Church in Huntersville, Father John Putnam touched upon the shooting as an example of how little human life is valued and protected in our world. Respect for all life, he said, is a fundamental principle of our faith – from the most vulnerable unborn baby to the eldest or sickest among us. From abortion to same-sex “marriage” to gun violence, the culture of death is prevalent, he said, and Christians are facing increasing persecution for their faith and witness to life. People of faith must not be afraid to preach the Gospel and uphold the value of all life, he said.

Members of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir held a prayer vigil the night after the shooting, as well as prayed for the victims and their families at Mass over the weekend.

At St. Ann Church in Charlotte, Father Timothy Reid and parishioners also prayed for an easing of racial tensions in the country.

— Catholic News Service contributed.

More online At homeless thefilm.com: View a trailer and learn more about the film “Homeless,” shot in WinstonSalem hope the film moves people to take action.”

He added that without the help of their church, Centenary United Methodist, they would never have been able to shoot the film or finish the postproduction.

“We have submitted ‘Homeless’ to several more festivals in late summer and throughout the fall,” Tif Hassler said. “We hope to continue to bring it to cities across the nation and eventually we hope to pick up distribution to get it into the hearts and homes of everyone.”

McDowell thinks young people particularly would be interested in seeing “Homeless,” as long as they keep an open mind.

“My age group is not always accepting or open,” he said. “People need to have a bigger perspective and not just live in their own bubble…they need to recognize their fellow human beings.” More than anything, he said, he hopes the film’s impact on people will be lasting. The movie seems to really connect with people, he said and that enables them to see the person behind the homeless label, to see the individual child of God. That recognition, he said, has the potential to make a difference in the world.

“The movie isn’t just a bunch of events unfolding on-screen,” he said. “It’s more than that. Those things that are happening, those experiences, events, are happening to someone – someone like me or you or anybody.”

The important question then becomes, what can each of us do about it, he said.

“Hopefully, that’s what people will come out of the theater thinking. Hopefully, they’re thinking: What can I do to help someone?”

Our nation 18

catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Analyzing ruling’s implications will take time, say Church officials Julie Asher Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Analyzing the ramifications of the June 26 samesex “marriage” ruling for the Catholic Church at the national, state and local levels will take time, said Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore.

It has implications for “hundreds, if not thousands” of laws at all levels, and there is “a difficult road ahead for people of faith,” he said.

Archbishop Lori, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, made the comments in a teleconference for news media held about three hours after the Supreme Court issued its 5-4 decision that states must license same-sex “marriage.”

Joining him in the media briefing were two members of the bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military, and Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas; and Anthony Picarello, associate general secretary and general counsel at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Tragically, the court was wrong,” said Archbishop Broglio, adding that this is “not the first time” a “false understanding of marriage” has been forced on the country, as by lower court rulings.

“Clearly the decision was not required by the Constitution (and) the narrowness of the decision reveals it is not settled,” he continued.

“Marriage is unchangeable.”

Echoing an earlier statement by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., USCCB president, Archbishop Broglio said the Church will continue to follow Christ, “in solidarity with pope,” in adhering to the Church’s teaching on marriage being between one man and one woman.

Archbishop Lori acknowledged that the court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges “makes a nod in the direction of religious liberty.” But that, he said, is too narrow. The ruling “recognizes free speech, the right of religion to teach or advocate with regard to the true definition of marriage, but it does not acknowledge (that) the First Amendment also protects freedom of religion and the right to follow our teaching,” he said.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority, recognized in several places the role of religious beliefs in the questions surrounding same-sex “marriage,” saying that “it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex ‘marriage’ should not be condoned.”

Kennedy also said in part that “those who believe allowing same-sex ‘marriage’ is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with their view in an open and searching debate.”

But Archbishop Lori said free speech is not at issue. Under the ruling, “we retain the right to think what we want at home and within the confines of the church” but it does not address the First Amendment’s guarantee to free exercise of religion. The Church should be able to operate “our ministries ... without fear of being silenced, penalized,” he said.

Through social services, “we serve millions of people every day. We do it well and we do it lovingly,” he added.

He foresees many legal challenges and controversies as the Church seeks to protect itself from the fallout of the marriage ruling by advocating at the federal, state and local levels for protections for its faith-based practices.

Some areas where there will be legal disputes, Picarello said, were outlined by Chief Justice John Roberts, including tax exemptions, campus housing, academic accreditation, employment and employee benefits.

The Church in the U.S. will have to look at internal ways to protect itself against legal challenges, Picarello said, and “advocate externally for legislation, regulation and, if necessary, litigation.”

Picarello said free speech protections for opponents of same-sex “marriage” were already under attack. Within a couple of hours of the decision being issued, he said, a newspaper in Pennsylvania announced it will no longer accept op-eds criticizing same-sex “marriage.”

“Some things will happen immediately,” as seen by that newspaper’s announcement, he said, and some will take time to unfold,” like challenges to churches receiving tax exemptions.

Another area that will require study, Archbishop Broglio said, is the military chaplaincy, because the Catholic priest-chaplains whom his archdiocese oversees also come under civil authorities.

While polls show a majority of Catholics say they approve of same-sex “marriage,” Catholic teaching is “never determined by numbers but by the truth,” Archbishop Broglio said. “We have to be faithful to the teaching of the Gospel.”

“In a pastoral context we respond to the individual in his or her need and that’s quite different than what we teach concretely,” he added. The Church must make its “teaching on marriage very, very clear,” while at the time be pastoral to individuals.

The Church teaches marriage is between a man and a woman and that sex outside marriage is a sin. At the same time the Church upholds the human dignity of all people, Archbishop Lori said, adding, “We preach the truth with love in season and out of season.”

CNS | Joshua Roberts, Reuters

Supporters of traditional marriage between a man and a woman rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington June 26, shortly before the justices handed down a 5-4 ruling that states must license same-sex “marriages” and must recognize samesex “marriages” performed in other states.

Supreme Court rules same-sex ‘marriage’ legal nationwide Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a landmark ruling, a divided Supreme Court June 26 said same-sex “marriage” is constitutional nationwide.

“The nature of marriage is that, through its enduring bond, two persons together can find other freedoms, such as expression, intimacy, and spirituality,” wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy for the 5-4 majority. “This is true for all persons, whatever their sexual orientation.”

In a second part of the ruling, the court affirmed that every state must recognize marriages performed in other states, a question that will become moot as the first part of the opinion is enacted. As of June 26, 36 states, the District of Columbia and Guam allowed samesex “marriage.” Some of those states passed laws allowing it, while others have done so under court ruling.

Recognizing in several places the role of religious beliefs in the questions surrounding same-sex “marriage,” Kennedy said toward the conclusion of his 28-page opinion that “it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex ‘marriage’ should not be condoned.”

The First Amendment ensures protection for religious organizations and individuals as they seek to teach the principles “that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths,” he continued, and to “their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered. The same is true of those who oppose same-sex ‘marriage’ for other reasons.

“In turn, those who believe allowing same-sex

‘marriage’ is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with their view in an open and searching debate. The Constitution, however, does not permit the state to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex.”

Obergefell v. Hodges bundled four cases out of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, from Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky and Ohio, each of which had limited marriage to heterosexual couples. The circuit court upheld the state prohibitions on same-sex couples being entitled to marry.

The plaintiffs who sued raised a variety of issues that affected them. James Obergefell, for whom the case is titled, sued after the state of Ohio refused to list him as the surviving spouse on the death certificate of John Arthur, who he married in Maryland. A Michigan couple sued after they were denied the right to jointly adopt the children they are raising together. Two other cases challenged Tennessee’s and Kentucky’s refusal to recognize their marriages from other jurisdictions.

Kennedy was joined in the majority by Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

The four justices who dissented in the ruling did so with vehemence. Each wrote a separate dissent, with different combinations of the four signing onto each others’ opinions.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who read his dissent from the bench for the first time ever, joined Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas in focusing primarily on the argument that the court was acting precipitously, ruling on a matter that the states had been still considering.

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief South Carolinians pay tribute to slain pastor-senator, other victims COLUMBIA, S.C. — The crowd that poured onto the Capitol grounds June 24 to mourn a slain state senator and pastor, the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, was a tribute not just to him, but to each of the victims shot a week earlier at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston.

Thousands of mourners stood together for hours on a brutally hot day, waiting patiently for the chance to pay their respects. Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone of Charleston and several men and women religious were among the massive crowd who came to demonstrate their support to the families and the community.

Supreme Court upholds execution drug protocol WASHINGTON, D.C. — In another in a series of bitterly divided end-of-term cases, the Supreme Court June 29 upheld the execution protocol used by Oklahoma and several other states.

The 5-4 ruling written by Justice Samuel Alito upheld lower courts that said the use of the drug midazolam in lethal injection does not violate Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Among the reasons Alito cited in upholding lower courts were that “the prisoners failed to identify a known and available alternative method of execution that entails a lesser risk of pain.”

Supreme Court upholds ACA health care subsidies WASHINGTON, D.C. — Writing that “Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them,” a 6-3 majority of the Supreme Court June 25 upheld tax subsidies for participants in health care exchanges run by the federal government in states that refused to create them. In the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts disentangled what he said was “more than a few examples of inartful drafting” in how the 2010 law was written that contributed to the interpretation that federal subsidies for people with lower income should only be available to residents of states that created their own health care exchanges.

Thirty-four states use the federal insurance exchange because they did not set up their own. An estimated 6.4 million people who live in those states were at risk of losing subsidies to help pay insurance premiums.

Texas Catholics disappointed by court ruling on abortion law

HECHT REALTY

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Catholic Conference expressed disappointment with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision June 29 which temporarily blocks Texas from enforcing new requirements on abortion clinics that would force many of them to close. The Texas law requires the clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers when performing abortions. Other provisions of the law, such as requiring abortion doctors to have hospital privileges and prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks gestation, were not affected.

A June 30 statement from the Catholic conference, the public policy arm of the Texas Catholic bishops, said the bishops “grieve for the unborn children who will continue to die, and are concerned for the mothers who will subjected to substandard care, while the court delays until the fall to resolve this issue.”

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Block on Kansas law said to leave unborn ‘vulnerable to painful death’ TOPEKA, Kan. — A Kansas District Court judge June 25 granted a temporary injunction against Kansas’ Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act, which was to take effect July 1. The law bans the dilation and evacuation abortion procedure that is commonly used during the second trimester of pregnancy.

“Today’s injunction leaves unborn children vulnerable to painful death by dismemberment,” said Mary Spaulding Balch, National Right to Life’s director of state legislation. “The fact that the practice of dismembering an innocent, living unborn child is legally protected killing should outrage people everywhere,” she said.

CCDOC.ORG

Archbishop Lori opens Fortnight for Freedom with Gospel link BALTIMORE — Archbishop William E. Lori reminded those gathered for Mass June 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore that when it comes to religious freedom, American Catholics and Christians worldwide are in the same “boat.”

In the day’s Gospel reading, from Chapter 4 of St. Mark’s Gospel, Jesus calmed the storm threatening the boat carrying Him and the apostles on the Sea of Galilee. That boat symbolizes the Church through history, said Archbishop Lori in his homily.

He was the main celebrant at a Mass to open the U.S. bishops’ fourth annual Fortnight for Freedom.

“As we look at the passenger manifest of this 2,000-year-old voyage, whom do we see?” he asked during his homily.

— Catholic News Service

Music Minister Our Lady of the Highways Catholic Church in Thomasville, NC is seeking a Music Minister to lead the choir in weekend Masses and Holy Days of obligation. Applicant should be able to play the piano, keyboards or the guitar.

Please send resume to: Our Lady of the Highways Catholic Church Attention: Fr. James M. Turner 943 Ball Park Road, Thomasville, NC 27360

Discover Natural Family Planning Modern Natural Family Planning (NFP) provides a practical and empowering alternative used to achieve or avoid pregnancy. It upholds the dignity of the person within the context of marriage and family and promotes openness to life by respecting the love-giving and life-giving natures of marriage.

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Our world 20

catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope to archbishops: Be brave, convincing witnesses for Church Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — The Church wants pastors who are unafraid of persecution, are angels of hope and charity, and are convincing witnesses with a life rooted in prayer and the Gospel, Pope Francis told new archbishops.

“It’s quite simple, because the most effective and authentic witness is one that does not contradict, by behavior and lifestyle,” what one preaches and teaches, he said at a Mass celebrating the feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul June 29.

Forty-six archbishops representing 34 countries, who were named over the course of the last year, were invited to come to Rome to concelebrate the feast day Mass with Pope Francis. This year, however, the pope set aside an element that had been part of the Mass for the past 32 years, by no longer conferring the pallium on new archbishops during the liturgy. The archbishops were to be present for the pope’s blessing of the palliums to underline their bond of unity and communion with him.

But the actual imposition of the woolen band was to take place in the archbishop’s archdiocese in the presence of his faithful and bishops from neighboring dioceses.

During his blessing of the palliums, Pope Francis said the woolen bands that will be worn over their shoulders symbolize the “yoke” of the Gospel as well as their call to be shepherds dedicated to the pastoral care of their people.

During his homily, the pope said the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recalled the harsh persecution faced by the early Christians.

“However, I do not wish to dwell on these atrocious, inhuman and incomprehensible persecutions, sadly still present in many parts of the world today,” often happening right in front of everyone’s eyes and meeting with complete silence, he said.

Instead, the pope said he wanted to “pay homage to” these courageous Christians who evangelized fearlessly in a pagan culture; they are, he said, models for Christians today, and a “powerful call to prayer, to faith and to witness.”

It is through prayer that believers express their faith and trust in God, and directly experience His closeness, especially when He sends angels of hope, the pope said.

The early Christians call people today to be people of faith, who understand that God does not remove people from the world or evil, “but He does grant them the strength to prevail.”

“How many forces in the course of history have tried, and they still do, to destroy the Church, from without as well as within, but they themselves are destroyed and the Church remains alive and fruitful,” the pope said.

“Only God remains,” while everything else – like, empires, cultures, ideologies and nations – passes.

“The Church does not belong to popes, bishops, priests or the lay faithful; the Church in every moment belongs solely to Christ,” he said, and this is how, despite the many “storms” in time and sins of its members, the Church is able to remain “ever faithful to the deposit of faith shown in service.”

In fact, the call to be firm witnesses is key, the pope said, because without witness, the Church and its members are sterile and dead – “like a dried-up tree that produces no fruit, an empty well that offers no water.”

Pope Francis then told the archbishops that he hoped the pallium, which is meant to symbolize both their unity with pope and their authority and responsibility to care for the flock entrusted to them, would also remind them of this call to prayer, faith and witness.

“The Church wants you to be men of prayer,” faith and witness, who can show people that “liberation from all forms of imprisonment is uniquely God’s work and the fruit of prayer” as well as teach people “to not be frightened of the many Herods” who persecute them.

He asked that they be courageous, “convinced and convincing” witnesses, whose lifestyles matched the Gospel message and their preaching, and who “are not ashamed of the name of Christ and of His cross, not before the roaring lions, or before the powers of this world.”

Outside the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre describes to a reporter June 30 the Mass Pope Francis will celebrate for the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Sept. 26, the start of his two- day visit to the city.

CNS | Sarah Webb, CatholicPhilly.com

Pope’s visits to Cuba, U.S. to highlight families, charity Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — In word and deed, Pope Francis will take his vision of a Catholic’s approach to family life, parish life, charity, economics, immigration and good governance to Cuba and the United States during a Sept.

19-27 visit.

Visiting both Cuba and the United States on the same trip not only acknowledges his role in encouraging detente between them, but will give Pope Francis an opportunity to demonstrate that while different political and cultural challenges face Catholics in both countries, the Gospel and its values are the same.

On June 30, the Vatican published the detailed schedule of Pope Francis’ Sept. 19-22 visit to Cuba and his Sept. 2227 visit to the United States.

For Pope Francis, one of the key values Catholics in the U.S. and Cuba share is the obligation to “go out,” proclaiming the Gospel and bringing God’s mercy to the poorest and most disadvantaged people.

The standard of living in the United States may be exponentially higher than in Cuba, but in Pope Francis’ vision that only increases the responsibility of U.S. Catholics to reach out and to share. He will demonstrate what he means when he meets homeless people in Washington Sept. 24, children and immigrant families at a Catholic school in Harlem when he visits New York Sept.

25, and prisoners Sept. 27 in Philadelphia.

The closing Mass for the World Meeting of Families will follow the papal meeting with prisoners. The World Meeting of Families international congress Sept. 22-25 and the celebration of families with the pope Sept. 26-27 were the initial reason for the papal visit.

With the Church’s constant concern for promoting

strong families and with the world Synod of Bishops on the family set to start one week after the papal visit, marriage and family life are expected to be topics throughout the pope’s visit to both Cuba and the United States.

Long before the Vatican released the full trip itinerary, it had confirmed certain parts of it: President Barack Obama will welcome the pope to the White House Sept. 23; that afternoon, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and canonize Blessed Junipero Serra; the pope will address a joint meeting of Congress Sept. 24, becoming the first pope to do so; and then he will address the U.N. General Assembly Sept. 25. It is thought the pope may bring up some of the points he made in his recent environmental encyclical “Laudato Si,” given that the world nation’s will come together just a few months later for the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris in the hopes of reaching global agreement on reducing greenhouse gases.

The pope also is expected to emphasize the contributions of U.S. Catholics to society, defend religious liberty and support the Church’s right to uphold its teaching, including in its employment practices. He will use his visit to Ground Zero in New York as an occasion for an interreligious gathering.

The pope will spend three days in Cuba visiting three different cities, including the popular Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre. He will hold the usual meetings with President Raul Castro, young people, families and religious as well as celebrate Mass and vespers all three days. But he also will bless the cities of Holguin and Santiago de Cuba – blessing Holguin from a panoramic hilltop and pilgrimage site called Cross Hill.

It will be his third visit to the Americas after Brazil in 2013 and Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay in July, and his 10th trip abroad since his election in 2013.

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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In Brief Papal summer: Benedict heads for hilltop villa, Francis trims schedule VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis visited retired Pope Benedict XVI at his Vatican residence June 30 to wish him a happy summer. After a 30-minute visit from Pope Francis, the retired pope then headed off to the traditional papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo outside of Rome.

Not known for ever taking a vacation, Pope Francis did lighten his schedule just a bit for July. He will still hold his Angelus prayer and address every Sunday; however, there will be no Wednesday general audience for all of July, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman. The general audience will resume in August in the Vatican’s solar-powered and air-conditioned Paul VI hall.

Vatican signs deal with Palestine, calls for two-state solution VATICAN CITY — The Holy See and Palestine have signed a historic agreement that supports a two-state solution to the ongoing conflict in the Holy Land, based on the 1967 borders between Israel and Palestine. The two parties signed the “Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine” at the Vatican June 26. The accord, which includes a preamble and 32 articles, focuses mostly on the status and activity of

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the Church in Palestine. It assures the Church “juridical recognition” and “guarantees” for its work and institutions in Palestine. The second chapter of the agreement focuses entirely on freedom of religion and conscience and includes the right to worship and practice one’s faith, as well as the rights of Christian parents to give their children religious education, of Christians to take holy days off work, and of military personnel to have access to pastoral care. The preamble recognizes the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, the importance of Jerusalem and its sacred character for Jews, Christians and Muslims, and the objective of a two-state solution.

Christians call for justice after Galilee church hit by arson JERUSALEM — Druze, Muslims and Jews joined thousands of Christians in a demonstration in Galilee three days after an arson attack seriously damaged the Benedictine Church of the Multiplication. The demonstrators carried large wooden crosses and Vatican flags and called for justice June 21.

The June 18 blaze injured an elderly monk and a volunteer and destroyed the church’s roof while damaging a storage room, church offices and a prayer room. Israel has said it would help with repairs. Although police initially detained 16 youths who had been camping in the area the night of the arson, they were later released.

Authorities are continuing their investigation.

The Ha’aretz newspaper reported June 22 that ongoing attacks on churches have become a concern for police, who began intelligence work to identify activists with violent intentions in May 2014, before Pope Francis’ visit to Israel.

— Catholic News Service

Part-time Music Teacher Pre –K to 8th Grade Sacred Heart Catholic School

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Employment Opportunities St. James the Greater Concord, NC Our Religious Education Department is seeking to fill the following positions: Children’s Formation Coordinator This part-time, 25-hour-a-week position will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Religious Education Program for our parish’s Pre-K and elementary school children. Some of the responsibilities include program and curriculum development, organizing Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Reconciliation/First Communion sacramental preparation, along with other related catechesis programming.

Youth Coordinator This part-time, 25-hour-a-week position will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Religious Education Program for our parish’s middle school youth (Edge) and high school youth ministry (Life Teen), Confirmation preparation and other catechesis programming.

Youth Coordinator Assistant This part-time, 10-hour position will assist Youth Coordinator to assist and facilitate Wednesday and Sunday evening religious education for middle school (Edge).

All three positions do involve some evenings and weekend hours. Each require Protecting God’s Children, adhering to Diocesan guidelines on Ministry-Related Sexual Misconduct. Candidates need to be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church and conduct oneself in a professional manner that is aligned with the Church teachings. Strong, clear, and effective verbal and written communication skills are needed.

For application and full job descriptions, contact the parish office or Dan Ward, Business Manager, at 704-720-0600x27 or danw@saintjamescatholic.org.

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at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@ charlottediocese.org

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Father Jay Scott Newman

Robert D. Potter Jr.

Same-sex ‘marriage’: What happens now?

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Victory of the Sexual Revolution presents evangelical possibilities

n June 26, five members of the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the states must grant the right to same-sex “marriage.” As Justice Clarence Thomas pointed out in his dissent, this decision flies in the face of our own Declaration of Independence in which the Founders explained that our rights and dignity come from God, not the government. Nevertheless, what this means for Catholics is that a time of persecution of both the Church he legal dispute over same-sex “marriage” and individual Catholics is beginning and may continue for some time. in the United States has now been decided, Why? After all, doesn’t the First Amendment protect the “free exercise and in that contest the traditional Christian of religion”? Well, sort of. Our religious rights will now be challenged as understanding of marriage lost. What you may be never before because the Church is the only institution standing between surprised to learn is that I welcome this defeat. the radical homosexual agenda and the removal of any limits on sexual Since I began to preach from this pulpit over behavior. We can expect an all-out campaign to marginalize our faith as an 13 years ago, I have attempted to explain that we irrational superstition unworthy of respect. now live in what must rightly be called a postThe effects of the decision will be felt in several ways. First, almost all Christian era. It has been many decades, some limits on sexual behavior will be attacked. Second, government agencies will would say centuries, since the Gospel of Jesus attempt to force acceptance of same-sex “marriage” by regulation. Third, Christ was the primary engine for the formation private parties will sue and win damages from any person or institution of culture in the West, and now we are seeing objecting to same-sex “marriage.” the rapid abandonment of the Gospel as a source If the logic of the Court’s decision is followed, polygamists, closely related of law in the West. For 50 years and more, the individuals, and polyamorous individuals will all seek state approval of their trajectory of law and culture in Europe and the relationships.

United States has been away Second, in the face of a relentless campaign intended from the Christian worldview to marginalize and silence opposing views, we should and towards a new paganism, What does the Church say expect that the government’s administrative agencies particularly about sex, about same-sex ‘marriage’? will seek to force acceptance. The IRS, for example, will marriage, reproduction and probably revoke the tax-exempt status of any institution family life: no-fault divorce, At www.catholicnewsherald. refusing to approve of homosexual “marriage.” During birth control, abortion, in com: Find resources from oral argument at the Supreme Court, Justice Samuel vitro fertilization, surrogate the Catechism of the Catholic Alito asked the Obama Administration’s Solicitor General motherhood, embryonic stem Church, Vatican and U.S. bishops’ Donald Verrili whether an institution that objected to cell manipulation, assisted statements, and recent speeches homosexual “marriage” would lose its tax-exempt status. suicide, multiple remarriages,

by Pope Francis.

Verrili answered, “It’s going to be an issue.” For example, and now same-sex “marriage.” as Chief Justice John Roberts alluded to in oral argument, These changes in law and a Catholic college with married housing will be denied its custom are but a reflection of tax-exempt status if it refuses to give homosexual “couples” access to married the post-Christian character of our civilization, housing. The tax-exempt status of the Church itself will soon follow. Other and for most people today, Christianity is neither agencies will also seek to coerce approval and silence any opposition. a life-changing nor life-giving force; it is simply a Third, private companies and individuals will be hauled into court relic of a pre-modern past. because they refuse to participate in same-sex “marriages.” The lawsuits Though it may be an unpleasant prospect to have already started. The story of the bakers in Colorado sued for contemplate, I welcome this collapse of cultural “discrimination” in Colorado is proudly trumpeted on the ACLU’s website.

Christianity because only when Christianity as A bakery in Oregon was forced to pay up to $150,000 to a gay couple for a cultural memory is gone can Christianity as an refusing to bake a wedding cake. Memories Pizza in Indiana was forced to evangelical movement return. As for Christians close after being targeted by threatening phone calls and a social media in the first centuries after the Resurrection of campaign when it told a reporter it would not cater a same-sex wedding.

Jesus Christ, so now it is our privilege in a postFlorists in Washington state face a $2,000 fine and damages after a judge Christian culture to change human lives one at a found they violated Washington’s anti-discrimination law. Activists seeking time... In other words, Christians must let go of to undermine all opposition are not going to stop with wedding cakes, pizza nostalgia for our faded Christian civilization in shops and florists. Any church renting out its hall for weddings or refusing order to build it again. to perform gay weddings will be sued for refusing to conform.

If we can see the collapse of cultural But what about the “free exercise” clause of the First Amendment? Our Christianity as a great evangelical opportunity, traditional understanding of “free exercise” has always meant not simply that then with joy and love we can proclaim Jesus religious beliefs must be “tolerated.” Instead, “free exercise” has meant is that Christ crucified and risen to the millions of people we are free to exercise our religious beliefs by implementing them in our public who now have only debonair nihilism to help them life. Those rights are now directly threatened. Why? Other Supreme Court cases understand the purpose of their lives. To put it have held that our religious liberty must yield in the face of laws of “general plainly: if we let the new pagans be honest pagans, applicability.” In other words, if the law applies equally to everyone, a person can then we have a new opportunity to propose to not make a constitutional objection on the grounds of religious liberty. them that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of the So, what can we as Catholics do? First, we must speak out – not in bigotry living God, the Way, the Truth and the Life. It’s or fear – but in charity. We know that same-sex “marriage” is morally when we ask others to live as Christians without wrong, harmful to the individuals involved, and harmful to the society as being Christians that we set the stage for bitter a whole. Therefore, we must tell people, and tell them why. Second, we can conflict with those who do not share our faith, and be active politically to elect representatives who can adopt laws to protect in fidelity to her divine Lord, the Church never religious freedom and a president who will appoint judges to correct this seeks to impose herself or her teaching on any abomination of the law. Third, we can push for a constitutional amendment person or society. We seek only the liberty to teach to overturn this distortion of our Constitution. None of this will be easy, but what Christ teaches, to organize our lives around our ability to live in freedom is under direct assault. We must do everything that teaching, and to invite all others to accept Him we can to live our faith and save our country. If we do nothing, our children as Lord and Savior... and grandchildren will suffer, our freedom will not last and the light and Only from the personal conviction of hope that our country has given to the world will be gone forever. conversion to Jesus Christ can we find the desire and strength to live as Christians must live Robert D. Potter Jr. is a member of St. Patrick Cathedral and practices law in Charlotte. in every time and place. We must be a sign of

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contradiction. We must live as strangers in every country, including this country, because we are citizens only of the heavenly Jerusalem. We must be disciples and friends of the Word made Flesh, who calls us to be salt and light in this world, so that others may see in Him God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God. In the wasteland of debonair nihilism, we have a precious and rare chance to propose the Gospel as though for the first time to people who are prosperous and healthy but whose lives are, finally, without purpose and therefore unsatisfying. But to make that proposal we must first know the Gospel, believe the Gospel, live the Gospel and be prepared to share the Gospel with others.

In short, we must all be missionaries, right here and right now. And one thing all missionaries learn to do in preparing to share the Gospel with others is always to be mindful of the human situation of those to whom we seek to give witness. In every human life there is something good, true and beautiful, and pagans search for love and want to live a good life no less than Christians. The same-sex couple, for example, in asking for marriage from our courts are seeking to make the gift of self to another person which gives life meaning. Christians believe, of course, that such a gift of self can find its true meaning and purpose only when it is made in keeping with God’s plan for our lives, a plan that does not include same-sex “marriage,” but anyone who is already seeking a way to make that gift, however confusedly, is climbing the ladder of love, whether they know it or not.

A skillful missionary will use that as a starting point to invite the seeker to climb higher, not to humiliate or demean a human person who is created in the image and likeness of God, even when he is in the grip of sin. But above all else, a good missionary will never present Christianity as a moral code or set of rules to be obeyed for the sake of some future reward; a good missionary will explain that authentic Christianity, which of course does have a moral code, is first a relationship with the crucified and risen Lord Jesus...

My friends, by our baptism we are called to invite others to follow the more excellent way of divine love revealed by Jesus Christ on the Cross, but we cannot do that if we think or speak of those who do not share our faith with derision or contempt. So even as the news in the coming months is filled with smiling, newly married same-sex couples on the steps of the courthouse, do not allow your hearts to harden.

Remember, instead, that the final collapse of cultural Christianity clears the way for a new proclamation of the Gospel which is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, and our proclamation of that Gospel begins now and always with our own continuing and ever deeper conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father Jay Scott Newman is the pastor of St. Mary Church in Greenville, S.C. This is excerpted from a homily he delivered Oct. 12, 2014, and republished June 26 on his blog “Ecclesia Semper Reformanda.”

July 3, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Letter to the editor

Remember our neighbors’ grief Deacon James H. Toner

What we know that ain’t so:

“What you think is the right road may lead to death” (Prv 14:12)

My conscience What we think is the right road

P

oet William Ernest Henley famously said, “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” People today cheer the mantra of nonconformity, of individual autonomy: “I gotta be me!”

I celebrate me. I follow me. And I judge right and wrong according to me: my own conscience is my final guide. That’s what freedom is all about, isn’t it?

But it’s the wrong road How does one quarrel with the philosophy of “me”?

One of the results of the 16th century Protestant Reformation was the triumph of the autonomous person.

Autonomy means selfgovernment; it means that one is free to choose Peter Kreeft and act by and for himself.

That concept continues to be championed today, and in fact, there is something at “On Conscience,” least partially

by Cardinal Joseph right about it.

Ratzinger. San Francisco: As Catholics, Ignatius Press, 2007. we do not want people mindlessly following the caprice of other people; we do, in fact, want people to be the captains of their souls. It is important to think for oneself and follow one’s conscience, not blindly follow the “mob.” That’s lesson one.

There is, though, a second lesson: There is a time to follow the crowd, provided the “crowd” has it right. (Are we not supposed to follow the saints’ examples?) In teaching ethics or moral theology, I discuss what I call the “we/me” problem. There are times to do what others tell us. There are times not to do what others tell us. There are times when, recognizing that others are leading me astray, I should follow my own moral judgment, and times, too, when I must, in humility, recognize my limitations and seek the counsel of wiser people and friends.

But how do I know when to listen to others and when to ignore them?

Cicero once wrote, “I do not set much store by what others think of me; my own conscience counts for more with me than the verdict of all other people.” Cicero could argue that because he understood that conscience means “with knowledge.” If we are properly informed and properly formed, we will have the knowledge to act as we ought (if we also have the enabling fortitude to do so).

“Things are not wrong because God

Conscience is ‘the voice of God in the soul.’

Suggested reading

forbids them,” wrote Father Eric D’Arcy in a superb 1961 book, “Conscience and its Right to Freedom.” “God forbids them because they are wrong.” The good conscience is not jealous or pompous or proud; it is not rude, or selfish or irritable; it does not keep a record of wrongs; it is never happy with evil. And it rejoices with the truth (based, of course, upon 1 Cor 13).

So: God hates sin and forbids sin because it’s wrong. We belong to God and we pray in the Our Father, “Thy (His) will be done” – by us. Therefore, we form our conscience in the light of God’s truth, not according to the pleasure or profit or popularity of something.

Conscience “rejoices with the truth.”

There are two reasons we do not follow the truth found in our informed conscience, but, instead, the demagoguery or low morals of the day: ignorance or apathy (known in moral theology as acedia). St. Paul told us that ignorance of God is the source of all moral deviations (Romans 1:18-32). But even when we know the truth, we must have the courage to do the truth. That is why obedience (which suggests both hearing well and acting wisely) is so important. In fact, St. Paul said that obedience of faith is our first duty toward God (Romans 1:5, 16:26).

When I choose what my ego wants – as opposed to choosing what I ought – then I have put myself in God’s place: I have violated the First Commandment.

Further, the Vatican II document “Dignitatis Humanae” explains that all people are “impelled by their nature and bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth. They are also bound to adhere to the truth once they come to know it and direct their whole lives in accordance with the demands of truth.”

A self-indulgent, troubled conscience that seeks to avoid knowing or following the truth – preferring “my” will to “Thy” will – is both deceived and deceitful. We are either being misled by our neo-pagan society (read Catechism of the Catholic Church 1783; 2 Cor 11:3), or misleading ourselves and others (read Titus 3:3; CCC 2526).

Conscience is too rarely explained in the context of the command of Our Lord: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mt 16:24; 10:38). The celebration of self is at odds with the divine call to deny ourselves, to serve as witnesses for Christ, and to follow Him rather than listen to the siren song of a secular world which champions the greatest lie: we can be as gods, knowing good and bad, which (somehow) always seem to conform to our selfish ways and wishes.

St. Paul knew better: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2 RSV).

The root of the good conscience is found in the prophetic loam of knowing and doing God’s will (see CCC 2520, 2826), for there we find our peace, our joy, and our destiny.

Deacon James H. Toner serves at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

Two weeks ago I paid my respects by standing and praying outside Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Zion Church in Charleston, placing a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the people of Jacksonville, Florida’s L’Arche community, my hosts from the night before.

Last week in Charlotte, a predominately African-American church was burned intentionally. I ask my fellow Catholics to think about what we would do if a neighbor was killed or if arsonists destroyed his home? After taking time to ponder that, let’s take a few minutes to reach out with a card, a donation or a personal visit to the site to bear witness to our fellow Christians’ grief.

Julie McElmurry lives in Charlotte.

Parish spotlight Jefferson parish begins nocturnal Eucharistic Adoration JEFFERSON — The Hispanic community at St. Francis of Assisi Church has established monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the First Saturday of each month.

Beginning after the Saturday evening Spanish-language Mass, Adoration continues through the night until Benediction at 8 a.m., before the Sunday Mass. Everyone is invited to spend an hour or two with Our Lord in this beautiful devotion. Exposition and Benediction are also offered each Friday for an hour following the 9 a.m.

Mass, during which Father James Stuhrenberg, pastor, is available to hear confessions.

— Patrick Hession

Most-read stories on the web

‘Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change.’

Pope Francis

via Twitter. Follow him @Pontifex Through press time on July 1, 11,846 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 30,644 pages. The top 10 headlines in June were: n 2015 priest assignments announced for Diocese of Charlotte.............................................. 4,843 n Nourish the faithful, Charlotte diocese’s two newest priests told...........................................1,463 n Charlotte diocese announces seminarian summer assignments for 2015..............................977 n View the current print edition of the Catholic News Herald.........................................................553 n ‘Stay close to God and He will stay close to you’.............................................................................467 n Supreme Court rules same-sex marriage legal nationwide........................................................ 345 n Mercy Sister honored for her work......................................................................................................323 n Triad mother recounts miraculous events surrounding high-risk pregnancy, healing.........289 n Christ the King High School celebrates first graduating class....................................................242 n Boone pastor leaving diocese to minister to fellow priests...........................................................216

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 3, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

“I Am The Way and The Truth and The Life” (John 14:6)

11th Eucharistic Congress

September 11 – 12, 2015, Charlotte Convention Center Singing and Praying Hymns of Praise in Honor of the Holy Eucharist, Byzantine-Rite Vespers Bible Study of the Gospel of St. John with Fr. Patrick Winslow Procession of the Eucharist to St. Peter’s Church and Nocturnal Adoration, College Night Vendors of Sacred Art Vocation and Catholic Education information Holy Mass

For more information please visit: GoEucharist.com

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IHS

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Teresa Tomeo “Fortifying Faith, Family and Culture”

Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk “Bioethics: A Moral Compass for the Family” Concert of Sacred Music Choir Members from Parishes of the Diocese

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Father Daniel L. Mode “Father Vincent Capodanno, The Grunt Padre”

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I F E – Jo h EL n1

Holy Hour Homilist: His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan “The Holy Eucharist: The Way and The Truth and The Life of the Intentional Catholic”

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PRESENTATIONS

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English and Spanish Tracks for Adults K-12 Education Tracks for Students Sean Forrest, Adam Truffant and Katie Dunn Religious displays

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Eucharistic Procession - Uptown Charlotte Holy Hour Confession

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2015 Eucharistic Congress Diocese Of Charlotte

September 11 & 12